It has been shown that Adhesions that form after surgery are a result of the body's normal healing process. Adhesions frequently develop during the first three to five days after surgery. The number of hospital readmissions for Adhesion related complications rival the number of operations for heart bypass, hip replacements and appendix operations. Nerve endings may also become entrapped within a developing adhesion causing severe pain. Intesttinal obstruction is one of the most scvere consequences of Adhesions.
Adhesions involving the bowel can cause a bowel obstruction or blockage.
Adhesions can form elsewhere such as around the heart, spine and in the hand where they may lead to other problems. The rate of Adhesion formation after surgery is surprising, given the lack of knowledge about Adhesions, among doctors and patients alike. The lack of epidemiological data on Adhesions, combined with an inability effectively to prevent Adhesion formation has limited the impetus to investigate this disorder. However validated data from the Scottish National Health Service medical record linkage database was used to identify patients undergoing open abdominal or pelvic surgery in 1986, who had no record of such surgery in the preceding 5 years. Patients were followed up for 10 years and subsequent readmissions were reviewed and outcomes classified by the degree of Adhesions.