National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Adhesions is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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National Institutes of Health
Adhesions
Also called: Abdominal adhesions
Adhesions are bands of fibrous tissue. They can connect the loops of the intestines to each other, to nearby organs or to the wall of the abdomen. They can pull sections of the intestines out of place. This may block food from passing through the intestine.
Most adhesions form after surgery on the abdomen. Some adhesions don't cause any problems. But when they partly or completely block the intestines, they cause symptoms such as
- Severe abdominal pain or cramping
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- An inability to pass gas
- Constipation
Adhesions can sometimes cause infertility in women by preventing fertilized eggs from reaching the uterus.
No tests are available to detect adhesions. Doctors usually find them during surgery to diagnose other problems.
Some adhesions go away by themselves. If they partly block your intestines, a diet low in fiber can allow food to move easily through the affected area. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the adhesions. But surgery to correct adhesions can increase the risk of more adhesions.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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Abdominal Adhesions(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Abdominal Adhesions
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Overviews
- Abdominal Adhesions(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School)
- Adhesions: What Are They and How Can They Be Prevented?(American Society for Reproductive Medicine) - PDF
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Abdominal exploration - slideshow
- Also available in Spanish
- Hysterosalpingography(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
- Laparoscopic Surgery(American College of Gastroenterology)
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Prevention/Screening
- Adept Adhesion Reduction Solution(Food and Drug Administration)
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Specific Conditions
- Intestinal Ischemia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Adhesions(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Tissue Adhesions(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Adhesions
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Organizations
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Children
- Labial Adhesions: A Guide for Parents(Children's Hospital Boston)
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Women
- Endometriosis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Patient Handouts
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Abdominal Adhesions(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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- Adhesion
- Also available in Spanish
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Abdominal Adhesions
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