ten Broek RP, et al. Adhesiolysis-related morbidity in abdominal surgery. Ann Surg. 2013 Jul;258(1):98-106. 

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Results: A total of 755 (out of 844) surgeries in 715 patients were included. Adhesiolysis was required in 475 (62.9%) of operations. Median adhesiolysis time was 20 minutes (range: 1-177). Fifty patients (10.5%) undergoing adhesiolysis inadvertently incurred bowel defect, compared with 0 (0%) without adhesiolysis (P < 0.001). In univariate and multivariate analyses, adhesiolysis was associated with an increase of sepsis incidence [odds ratio (OR): 5.12; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-24.71], intra-abdominal complications (OR: 3.46; 95% CI: 1.49-8.05) and wound infection (OR: 2.45; 95% CI: 1.01-5.94), longer hospital stay (2.06 ± 1.06 days), and higher hospital costs [$18,579 (15,204-21,954) vs $14,063 (12,471-15,655)]. Mortality after adhesiolysis complicated by a bowel defect was 4 out of 50 (8%), compared with 7 out of 425 (1.6%) after uncomplicated adhesiolysis (OR: 5.19; 95% CI: 1.47-18.41).

Hu Q, et al. A review of physiological and cellular mechanisms underlying fibrotic postoperative adhesion. Int J Biol Sci. 2021 Jan 1;17(1):298-306.

Figure 2. Brief schematic illustration of the pathogenesis of adhesion formation. Interaction of inflammation, oxidative stress, fibrinolysis, coagulation, and cell apoptosis and proliferation in adhesion development.

Abstract: Postoperative adhesions (PA) are fibrotic tissues that are the most common driver of long-term morbidity after abdominal and pelvic surgery. The optimal drug or material to prevent adhesion formation has not yet been discovered. Comprehensive understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms of adhesion process stimulates the design of future anti-adhesive strategies. Recently, disruption of peritoneal mesothelial cells were suggested as the ‘motor’ of PA formation, followed by a cascade of events (coagulation, inflammation, fibrinolysis) and influx of various immune cells, ultimately leading to a fibrous exudate. We showed that a variety of immune cells were recruited into adhesive peritoneal tissues in patients with small bowel obstruction caused by PA. The interactions among various types of immune cells contribute to PA development following peritoneal trauma. Our review focuses on the specific role of different immune cells in cellular and humoral mechanisms underpinning adhesion development.

See also:

ten Broek RP, et al. Burden of adhesions in abdominal and pelvic surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2013 Oct 3;347:f5588.

Stommel MW, et al. Impact of Adhesiolysis on Outcome of Colorectal Surgery. Dig Surg. 2016;33(2):83-93.