Skip to main content

Abdominal Adhesions

James R. Yon, MD and Justin D Faulkner, MD Reviewed 06/2022
 


BASICS

  • Pathologic bands of scar tissue that form between two previously separated structures within the abdomen

  • Adhesions most commonly occur between:

    • Omentum

    • Bowel loops

    • Abdominal wall

    • Foreign Body (i.e. ...

DIAGNOSIS

Adhesions are primarily diagnosed through patient history and/or intraoperatively. The number of adhesions does not correlate with symptoms. 
ALERT

SBO in patients without a history of abdomin...

TREATMENT

SURGERY/OTHER PROCEDURES

  • Nasogastric decompression for patients with suspected partial SBO without specific indications for surgery (6)[A]

  • Adhesiolysis

    • Performed for symptomatic complications ...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Patient should have continued follow up with primary physician

  • Referral to surgical evaluation should be made if bowel obstruction is suspected or found on imaging

PATIENT EDUCATION

REFERENCES

1
Arung  W, Meurisse  M, Detry  O. Pathophysiology and prevention of postoperative peritoneal adhesions. World J Gastroenterol.  2011; 17(4...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Diamond  MP, Burns  EL, Accomando  B, et al. Seprafilm(®) adhesion barrier: (2) a review of the clinical literature on intraabdominal use. Gynecol Surg. ...

SEE ALSO

Algorithms: Infertility; Intestinal Obstruction 

CODES

ICD10

  • K66.0 Peritoneal adhesions (postprocedural) (postinfection)

SNOMED

  • 30689000 Adhesion of abdominal wall

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Abdominal adhesions result primarily from abdominal infection or trauma (including surgery).

  • Most adhesions are asymptomatic; the most common complication is bowel obstruction (partial ...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

Sign Up for a 10-Day Free Trial

Sign up for a 10-day FREE Trial now and receive full access to all content.

×