Chemically Stable, Strongly Adhesive Sealant Patch for Intestinal Anastomotic Leakage Prevention

Intestinal anastomotic leaking, which involves the discharge of chemically aggressive, non-sterile fluids into abdomen, remains one most dreaded postoperative complications abdominal surgery. Depending on site and patient condition, incidence ranging between 4% 21% mortality rates up to 27% are reported. Currently available surgical sealants only poorly address issue, especially since commonly used fibrin glues fail due insufficient adhesion chemical instability. Here, a highly resistive, leak-tight, mucoadhesive hydrogel sealant, is grafted surface intestinal wall using mutually interpenetrating network that traverses tissue presented. In contrast clinically fibrin-based (including Tachosil), developed adhesive poly(acrylamide-methyl acrylate-acrylic acid) patch does not degrade exhibits strong even when exposed fluid. The biocompatible effectively seals leaks in ex vivo models, greatly surpassing commercial (time patch-failure >24 h compared 5 min for Tachosil). Importantly, paves way application both mechanically robust suitable treatment prevention leaks.