An evaluation of the Gore-Tex surgical membrane for the prevention of postoperative peritoneal adhesions.

The Gore-Tex surgical membrane, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, has been used as a pericardial graft with minimal adhesion formation reported. The purpose of this study was to assess its efficacy as a barrier method for diminishing postoperative peritoneal adhesions in an animal model. Fifteen New Zealand white rabbits underwent laparotomy, with scrape and cut lesions created bilaterally on the uterine body and horns, respectively. On one side, the lesions were covered with the graft using 7-0 Gore-Tex suture; the contralateral side served as an internal control. After four weeks, the adhesions were graded and mean adhesion scores were calculated. The Gore-Tex score was 4.1 times higher than the control for scrape lesions and 1.9 times higher for cut lesions, but the difference was not statistically significant in either case. Overall, the Gore-Tex mean adhesion score was 2.3 times higher than the control, a statistically significant difference. The Gore-Tex surgical membrane did not appear to be an effective adjuvant for postoperative adhesion prophylaxis in this animal model.