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Description
Adhesions are most commonly found in the abdomen, where they form after abdominal surgery, inflammation or injury. Lysis (destruction or dissolution) of adhesions is a surgery performed to free adhesions from tissues.
Adhesions are fibrous tissues within the body that join normally unconnected parts. Although sometimes present from birth, adhesions are usually scar tissue formed after inflammation. The most common site of adhesions is the abdomen, where they often form after peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining) or following surgery, as part of the body’s healing process.
Abdominal adhesions infrequently bind together loops of intestine, resulting in intestinal obstruction. The condition is characterized by abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, distention, and an increase in pulse rate without a rise in temperature.
Nasogastric intubation and suction may relieve the blockage. If there is no relief, an operation is usually required to cut the fibrous tissue and free the intestinal loops. Although scar tissue within the abdomen can occur after any abdominal operation, they are more common after a ruptured appendix.
Most adhesions cause no problems, but they can obstruct the intestine in about 2 percent of all patients. These obstructions can occur several years later. The adhesions can also block the ends of the fallopian tubes, possibly causing infertility.
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