Method and composition for inhibiting post-surgical adhesions

Abstract

A method and compositions for reducing post-surgical adhesion formation/reformation in mammals following surgical injury to a body cavity or organs situated therein. The aqueous compositions comprising pentoxifylline and a polyoxyalkylene block copolymer are applied to the injured areas subsequent to surgical injury.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of inhibiting internal adhesions which comprises administering to a body cavity of a mammal a hypo-osmotic, hyperosmotic, or iso-osmotic aqueous composition, said aqueous composition containing: 
 a surfactant;    an effective amount of pentoxifylline; and    a polyoxyalkylene polyether;    said polyoxyalkylene polyether being present in said aqueous composition in an amount not exceeding about 10 percent and having a molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 100,000 wherein said polyoxyalkylene polyether is selected from the group consisting of:    (A) polyoxyalkylene polyethers prepared by reacting ethylene oxide and at least one lower alkylene oxide having 3 to 4 carbon atoms with at least one active hydrogen-containing compound having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms and from 3 to 6 active hydrogens to prepare a heteric or block copolymer intermediate and further reacting said copolymer intermediate with at least one alpha-olefin oxide having an average carbon chain length of about 20 to 45 aliphatic carbon atoms and wherein said alpha-olefin oxide is present in the amount of about 0.3 to 10 percent by weight based upon the total weight of said polyether; and,    (B) polyoxyalkylene polyethers prepared by reacting ethlyene oxide with at least one active hydrogen-containing compound having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms and from 2 to 6 active hydrogens to prepare a homopolymer intermediate and further reacting said homopolymer intermediate with at least one alpha-olefin oxide having an average carbon chain length of about 20 to 45 aliphatic carbon atoms and wherein said alpha-olefin oxide is present in the amount of about 0.3 to 10 percent by weight based on the total weight of said polyether.