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3. Ulcerative Colitis Slideshow

In this Article

• Abdominal adhesions facts*
• What are abdominal adhesions?
• What causes abdominal adhesions?
• How can abdominal adhesions cause intestinal obstruction?
• How can abdominal adhesions cause female infertility?
• What are the symptoms of abdominal adhesions?
• What are the symptoms of an intestinal obstruction?
• How are abdominal adhesions and intestinal obstructions diagnosed?
• How are abdominal adhesions and intestinal obstructions treated?
• Can abdominal adhesions be prevented?
• Patient Comments: Abdominal Adhesions - Causes
• Find a local Doctor in your town
• Abdominal Adhesions (Scar Tissue) Index

Abdominal adhesions are bands of tissue that form between abdominal tissues and organs. Normally, internal tissues and organs have slippery surfaces, which allow them to shift easily as the body moves. Adhesions cause tissues and organs to stick together.

The intestines are part of the digestive system. Abdominal adhesions can cause an intestinal obstruction.

Although most adhesions cause no symptoms or problems, others cause chronic abdominal or pelvic pain. Adhesions are also a major cause of intestinal obstruction and female infertility.

Abdominal surgery is the most frequent cause of abdominal adhesions. Almost everyone who undergoes abdominal surgery develops adhesions; however, the risk is greater after operations on the lower abdomen and pelvis, including bowel and gynecological surgeries. Adhesions can become larger and tighter as time passes, causing problems years after surgery.

Surgery-induced causes of abdominal adhesions include

• tissue incisions, especially those involving internal organs
  
  
• the handling of internal organs
  
  
• the drying out of internal organs and tissues
  
  
• contact of internal tissues with foreign materials, such as gauze, surgical gloves, and stitches
  
  
• blood or blood clots that were not rinsed out during surgery

A less common cause of abdominal adhesions is inflammation from sources not related to surgery, including

• appendicitis - in particular, appendix rupture
  
  
• radiation treatment for cancer
  
  
• gynecological infections
  
  
• abdominal infections

Rarely, abdominal adhesions form without apparent cause.