August 10, 2009 – SyntheMed Inc. said this week its antiadhesion product, the REPEL-CV Bioresorbable Adhesion Barrier, received the endorsement of Kids With Heart National Association for Children's Heart Disorders Inc.
"We want to inform parents of children with congenital heart defects about this new surgical device that reduces the risks associated with adhesions during repeat open-heart surgical procedures,” said Michelle Rintamaki, director of Kids With Heart, a nonprofit group providing support, information, and education to the families of children living with congenital heart defects.
Adhesions, or scar tissue, occur after virtually all open-heart surgical procedures, often resulting in the heart becoming attached to the sternum and other surrounding tissue surfaces. The presence of adhesions represents a prevalent and serious complication in secondary surgical procedures, increasing the patient risk, length and cost of the surgical procedure. REPEL-CV is a bioresorbable adhesion barrier film designed for placement over the surface of the heart at the conclusion of an open-heart surgical procedure to reduce the extent and severity of adhesions. It was recently approved by the FDA for use in pediatric patients who undergo staged open-heart surgical procedures.
For more information: www.kidswithheart.org
March 20, 2024 
