We aimed to evaluate comparative outcomes of abdominal surgery with and without hyaluronate-based bioresorbable membrane (Seprafilm).We conducted a systematic search of electronic databases and bibliographic reference lists with application of a combination of free text and controlled vocabulary search adapted to thesaurus headings, search operators and limits. Small bowel obstruction, anastomotic leak, surgical site infections, ileus, and severity of adhesions were the evaluated outcome measures. Thirteen randomised controlled trials reporting a total of 3665 patients evaluating outcomes of abdominal surgeries with (n = 1800) or without (n = 1865) use of Seprafilm were identified. Use of Seprafilm was associated with significantly lower risk of small bowel obstruction (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.38-0.73, P = 0.0001) but significantly higher rate of anastomotic leak (RR 1.85, 95% CI 1.15-3.00 P = 0.01). Moreover, while Seprafilm resulted in significantly more adhesions-free patients (RR 5.57, 95% CI 3.37-9.19, P < 0.0001) compared to no Seprafilm, its use was associated with significantly lower grade 2 (RR 0.57, 95% CI 0.35-0.95, P = 0.003) or 3 (RR 0.31, 95% CI 0.17-0.55, P < 0.0001) adhesions. There was no significant difference in surgical site infection (RR: 1.21, 95 CI 0.86-1.70, P = 0.28), intra-abdominal abscess (RR 1.46, 95 CI 0.92-2.32, P = 0.11) or paralytic ileus (RR 0.97, 95 CI 0.68-1.38, P = 0.87) between two groups. The trial sequential analysis demonstrated that the meta-analysis findings are conclusive. Our meta-analysis demonstrated that Seprafilm reduces the risk of small bowel obstruction and severity of adhesions after abdominal surgery. However, it may increase the risk of anastomotic leak. We recommend use of Seprafilm in any abdominal surgery which does not involve an anastomosis.
Keywords: Anti-adhesion barrier; Seprafilm; Small bowel obstruction.
© 2021. Italian Society of Surgery (SIC).