Anti-Adhesion Barriers

By RRM Academy Reviewed by Dr. Naomi Whittaker, MD, Board-Certified OBGYN, MIGS, NFPMC, FCI Updated May 14, 2026

Anti-adhesion barriers are materials placed during or at the close of pelvic surgery to physically separate tissue surfaces during the early healing period, reducing the formation of postoperative adhesions. When two traumatized peritoneal surfaces are in contact during healing, the resulting fibrin matrix can organize into permanent fibrous adhesions. Barrier materials interrupt this contact, giving each surface time to re-epithelialize independently.

Several categories of barrier materials are used in clinical practice. Oxidized regenerated cellulose (Interceed) and sodium hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose membrane (Seprafilm) are bioresorbable barriers approved for use in abdominal and pelvic surgery. Hyaluronic-acid-based gels provide a similar function in a more conformable form. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane has been used in reconstructive pelvic surgery with published data showing reductions in adhesion reformation scores over serial evaluation.¹ The choice of material depends on the anatomy being protected, surgeon experience, and availability.

Barriers are an adjunct to technique, not a replacement for it. The primary determinants of adhesion formation are tissue trauma, bleeding, and ischemia at the surgical site. Meticulous hemostasis and minimal peritoneal damage reduce the substrate for adhesion formation; barriers act on what remains. In reconstructive pelvic surgery, barriers are used in combination with thorough hemostasis and careful tissue handling as part of a systematic approach to adhesion prevention.¹

For patients whose fertility or pelvic anatomy has been compromised by adhesive disease, the use of anti-adhesion strategies at the time of surgery is clinically significant. Adhesion reformation after lysis can restore the original anatomical problem within weeks. Barrier placement is one component of a broader effort to make surgical gains durable.

This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult an RRM clinician or healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.