Adhesiolysis

Adhesion formation occurs frequently after abdominal and pelvic operations. Approximately 93 percent of patients form postoperative adhesions. These adhesions may lead to acute small bowel obstruction, (partial and complete), recurrent bowel obstruction or chronic abdominal pain. In a study of 1476 children undergoing laparotomy, 2.2 percent had adhesive obstruction, 70 percent of which are caused by a single adhesive band. Classically, open laparotomy has been the method of treatment for intestinal adhesive obstruction. However, over the past decade, exploratory laparoscopy and laparoscopic adhesiolysis have become acceptable, safe methods of diagnosing and treating this disease, with excellent long-term results and minimal morbidity.