Basic experiments of bioabsorbable materials in prevention of postoperative intrapleural adhesions following thoracotomy.

Reoperative pulmonary resection may be associated with a higher rate of postoperative complications secondary to postoperative adhesions. This review was designed to investigate the effect of a bioabsorbable material on postoperative intrapleural adhesions following thoracotomy. A search was performed in PubMed (United States National Library of Medicine) for original studies published in English and investigating a bioabsorbable material in preventing postoperative intrapleural adhesions, using the terms "pleural", "adhesion", and "surgery". Eight animal experimental studies (five rodents and three canines) were eligible for review. No human studies were identified. The type of bioabsorbable material was a sheet in five studies and a powder or spray in three studies. In five studies (62.5 %), a biomaterial included polymers. Six studies (75 %) suggested that a bioabsorbable material was effective in preventing intrapleural adhesions on the basis of statistical analysis. We conclude that a bioabsorbable material may prevent postoperative adhesions following thoracotomy and that available materials may reasonably be applied in clinical practice. Clinical trials on postoperative anti-adhesions are warranted in select patients.