Evaluation of the clinical behaviour of a polyvinylpyrrolidone and sodium hyalonurate gel (Gelclair) in patients subjected to surgical treatment with CO2 laser.

This experimental study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of Gelclair, a concentrated oral gel consisting of sodium hyalonurate and polyvinylpyrrolidone, in decreasing postoperative pain in patients subjected to surgical treatment by extirpation and/or vapourization of oral lesions with CO(2) laser. After the surgery, 60 consecutive patients (30 in control group and 30 in experimental group) were prescribed 600 mg ibuprofen 3 times per day for 4 days. In the experimental group a protocol was established for the application of 15 ml of Gelclair directly onto the wound 3 times per day, 1 h before meals, for 1 week. Spontaneous pain and pain on swallowing were evaluated using a visual analogue scale at 24 h and 7 days after the intervention. The experimental group had less spontaneous pain at 24h (P=0.000) and at 1 week (P=0.012), and also less pain on swallowing at 24 h and 1 week (P=0.029 and P=0.000, respectively) after the intervention. In conclusion, the effectiveness of the barrier mechanism that Gelclair provides improves the postoperative experience of patients who have undergone oral CO(2) laser surgery.