Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of a hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose (HA-CMC) barrier for prevention of pelvic adhesion formation in women undergoing primary cytoreductive surgery with radical oophorectomy for locally advanced epithelial cancer.
Methods: Between 3/1/01 and 3/1/02, all patients undergoing primary surgery for locally advanced FIGO Stage III-IV epithelial ovarian cancer were prospectively offered study enrollment. Radical oophorectomy (en bloc rectosigmoid colectomy) with total pelvic peritonectomy was performed as clinically indicated. Intestinal continuity was reestablished via stapled anastomosis following complete cytoreduction of pelvic disease. The entire pelvic peritoneal defect was covered with subdivided sheets of HA-CMC (6.5 cm x 5.0 cm) using a 'quilting' technique. The abdominal wall incision site was not treated with adhesion preventive measures. At second-look surgery, four-quadrant pelvic (treated area) and abdominal wall (untreated internal control) adhesion scores were assigned using a previously validated scoring system. Statistical analysis for differences in mean pelvic and abdominal wall adhesion scores was performed using Student's t test.
Results: Fourteen patients satisfied all inclusion criteria. Abdominal wall adhesions were noted in 92.9% of patients. In the pelvis, the dorsal peritoneal surfaces were the most common sites of adhesion formation (42.9%). Overall, the mean pelvic (treated) adhesion score was statistically significantly lower (0.91, SD +/- 1.04) than the mean abdominal wall (untreated control) score (5.56, SD +/- 4.55, P = 0.02). There were no instances of intestinal anastomotic leak, and no peri-operative complications directly attributable to HA-CMC were observed.
Conclusions: Placement of a HA-CMC barrier is associated with a significant reduction in the extent and density of pelvic adhesion formation following radical oophorectomy and pelvic peritonectomy for locally advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.