Postoperative Intestinal Adhesions: Causes And Prevention

Intestinal adhesions are a common concern among patients recovering from surgery. Traditional open surgeries often require incisions of 5–10 cm in the abdominal wall. After the wound is stitched closed, scar tissue forms, and this scar tissue is often uneven or rough. The intestines may then adhere to these irregular surfaces, leading to the development of postoperative adhesions.

Why Do Adhesions Form After Surgery?

Following abdominal surgery, the healing process involves the formation of fibrous tissue, which can cause internal structures to stick together. When the intestinal surfaces come into contact with scar tissue that has an uneven texture, the risk of adhesion formation increases significantly. These adhesions can lead to complications such as chronic pain, bowel obstruction, and even infertility in some cases.

How Minimally Invasive Surgery Reduces Adhesion Risk

To address this issue, modern medicine has increasingly adopted laparoscopic surgery. This minimally invasive technique involves making small incisions—typically 5–10 mm in size—on the abdominal wall. These smaller openings result in less scar tissue formation, which in turn reduces the likelihood of intestinal adhesions. As a result, the range of conditions treated with laparoscopic procedures continues to grow.

Additional Factors Contributing to Adhesion Formation

Another important factor that contributes to postoperative adhesions is reduced patient mobility. Due to pain or discomfort, many patients are reluctant to get out of bed and move around after surgery. This lack of movement slows down intestinal motility, increasing the chances of the intestines adhering to each other or to the abdominal wall.

Encouraging early ambulation and using adhesion-prevention barriers during surgery are two strategies that can help reduce the risk of postoperative adhesions. Patients are often advised to walk as soon as possible after surgery to stimulate normal bowel function and prevent complications related to adhesion formation.