The effect of hyaluronic acid-carboxymethylcellulose film (Seprafilm) in reducing postoperative adhesion formation was examined in a rabbit induced-adhesion model. During laparotomy, the ileocaecal region was mechanically and chemically abraded to induce lesions. After a 28-day recovery period, adhesions were lysed by microsurgery and Seprafilm was applied to the lysed lesion in 10 rabbits and six rabbits received physiological saline. A third laparotomy was performed 10-14 days later and the area of adhesion reformation was compared to that found prior to application of test materials. The area of adhesion reformation with Seprafilm decreased to (mean +/- standard deviation) 11.71 +/- 10.97% of the originally lysed lesion and, the area was significantly reduced compared with controls treated with physiological saline. These results suggest that the use of Seprafilm may be a valuable new anti-adhesion material for abdominal or pelvic surgery and may be superior to existing anti-adhesion materials and techniques.