Adhesions can lead to a variety of complications which include pelvic pain, infertility, bowel obstruction and prolonged operative and recovery times. Trauma Ischemia Foreign Bodies Hemorrhage Raw Surfaces Infection Trauma is frequently a major contributor to the formation of adhesions. It has been shown that adhesions which form or develop after surgery are a result of the body's normal healing process. During a surgical procedure blood flow often must be disrupted by the cutting, coagulation or tying of sutures. This can also lead to inflammation and cause adhesion formation.
Foreign bodies can also cause an inflammatory reaction in the body.
A foreign body can be suture material, lint from sponges, or talc from gloves. Local cells respond to the foreign body causing cells to release factors that incite an inflammatory reaction and adhesions may result. Hemorrhage or bleeding brings blood products into the operating field. The raw surfaces from the operation plus the blood from tissues can enhance the formation of adhesions. Infection from a variety of sources, endometriosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease can cause inflammation which results in adhesion formation.