What Are Intestinal Adhesions
4/11/01Intestinal Adhesions are often a serious but, unfortunately, are a common complication of abdominal surgery.
Fibrous adhesions {scar tissue} form on abdominal surfaces as a result of the body's reaction to foreign material encountered during surgery, such as talc, starch, lint, contents of intestine or sutures. They can also form after hernia or abscess.
Adhesions can form after any abdominal surgical procedure, including appendectomy, hysterectomy, gallbladder removal and removal of portions of the stomach and intestines.
The adhesions cause mechanical intestinal obstruction by encircling the intestine, restricting its size and ability to function. Obstruction can occur anywhere in the intestinal tract.
The part above the obstruction continues to function, but it will swell as it fills with food, fluid and secretions. Sometimes this requires inserting a long, thin tube into the nose and through the stomach to the affected site to remove the material above the obstruction. Intravenous fluids and electrolytes are given to replace those lost by diarrhea and vomiting.
Symptoms of intestinal adhesions include severe constipation,even while taking softeners ect.,moderate to severe pain, general tiredness,back and/or side pain {localized},nausea and a feeling of being overly full.
Obstructions of the large intestine usually results in constipation due to decreased fluids. If the small intestine is obstructed, diarrhea is more often seen.
The obvious major complication of obstruction is strangulation of the section of intestine, cutting off the blood supply and causing death of that tissue.
Strangulation increases the danger of perforation and peritonitis. Of course, total obstruction for any length of time is also dangerous.
The recommendation of surgical repair, which may involve removal of the affected section and reattachment, depends on the degree of obstruction and severity of symptoms. When the obstruction is total or nearly so, surgery must be performed quickly.
An obstruction can {sometimes} resolve itself without treatment,but if not, then I would certainly pursue the option of surgical repair. You should not have to endure this level of pain and inconvenience.
Incidentally, there is a condition called "chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction", a syndrome that has many of the same symptoms as adhesion-related obstruction, but without any mechanical lesions.This condition is caused by a group of systemic disorders rather than adhesions.
This of course is an issue that you will need to discuss with your Doctor and/or surgeon.
