Postoperative intra-abdominal collections using a sodium hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose (HA-CMC) barrier at the time of laparotomy for ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancers.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether HA-CMC was associated with the development of postoperative intra-abdominal collections in patients undergoing laparotomy for ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal malignancies.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified all laparotomies performed for these malignancies from March 1, 2005 to December 31, 2007. The use of HA-CMC was identified. Laparotomies for malignant bowel obstruction or repair of fistulae were excluded. Intra-abdominal collections, non-infected and infected, were defined as localized intraperitoneal fluid accumulations in the absence of re-accumulating ascites. All other complications were also captured. Appropriate statistical tests were applied using SPSS 15.0.

RESULTS

We identified 219 laparotomies with HA-CMC and 204 without HA-CMC. Upper abdominal resections were performed in 65/219 (30%) HA-CMC cases compared to 39/204 (19%) cases without HA-CMC (P=0.01). The rates of large bowel and/or rectal resections were similar in both cohorts. Intra-abdominal collections were seen in 18/219 (8.2%) HA-CMC cases compared to 5/204 (2.5%) cases without HA-CMC (P=0.009). HA-CMC was independently associated with the diagnosis of a postoperative intra-abdominal collection (P=0.01). All but 2 collections developed in patients undergoing debulking procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

HA-CMC appears to be associated with a higher rate of postoperative intra-abdominal collections. This seems to be greatest in patients who are undergoing a debulking procedure.