| Intestinal adhesions are bands of fibrous tissue that | | | | The preventive measure involves relatively immediate |
| can connect the loops of the intestines to each other, | | | | post-surgical intervention. The basis of the preventive |
| or the intestines to other abdominal organs, or the | | | | therapy is to treat the abdominal stasis that occurs |
| intestines to the abdominal wall. These bands can pull | | | | following surgery. Normally, after an abdominal surgery, |
| sections of the intestines out of place and may block | | | | the bowels are virtually paralyzed for many hours, up |
| passage of food. Adhesions are a major cause of | | | | to two days in older patients and complicated |
| intestinal obstruction. | | | | surgeries. Doctors and nurses check for the return of |
| Adhesions may be present at birth (congenital) or may | | | | bowel sounds (indicating movements) after the |
| form after abdominal surgery or inflammation. Most | | | | surgery, to make sure recovery is proceeding. Since |
| form after surgery. They are more common after | | | | obstructive constipation is one of the primary |
| procedures on the colon, appendix, or uterus than after | | | | responses to developing adhesions, concern about |
| surgery on the stomach, gall bladder, or pancreas. | | | | bowel stasis is a clear concern. |
| The risk of developing adhesions increases with the | | | | Symptoms |
| passage of time after the surgery. | | | | Some adhesions will cause no symptoms. If the |
| The causes and prevention of intestinal adhesions. | | | | adhesions cause partial or complete obstruction of the |
| Although intestinal obstruction from intra-abdominal | | | | intestines, the symptoms one would feel would depend |
| adhesions is a relatively common surgical emergency, | | | | on the degree and the location of the obstruction. |
| the vast majority of adhesions are harmless and may | | | | They include crampy abdominal pain, vomiting, bloating, |
| be protective or even life-saving. The causes of | | | | an inability to pass gas, and constipation. |
| intestinal adhesions are presented, and various | | | | Adhesions and Intestinal Blockages After intestinal |
| methods advocated to prevent adhesions are | | | | surgery adhesions (extra scar tissue, connective tissue |
| discussed. The surgeon is advised to reduce | | | | that should not be there) may restrict the passage of |
| unnecessary adhesion formation by meticuloussurgical | | | | food through the gut. If the GI tract becomes |
| technique, control those adhesions which inevitably | | | | obstructed, nothing can pass through, and this |
| form to obtain their beneficial effects, and to avoid the | | | | becomes a medical emergency. |
| risk of subsequent obstruction. | | | | Bowel adhesions can cause chronic pain and |
| Diagnosis | | | | dysfunction. Bowel adhesions form after trauma to the |
| X rays (computed tomography) or barium contrast | | | | tissues, caused by the body's inflammatory response |
| studies may be used to locate the obstruction. | | | | to tissue damage. As the body's tissues heal, bowel |
| Exploratory surgery can also locate the adhesions and | | | | adhesions are formed. |
| the source of pain. | | | | Medical issues to consider |
| CHINESE HERB MEDICINE FOR ADHESIONS | | | | Since adhesions are likely to form after certain surgical |
| The problem of developing abdominal adhesions is | | | | procedures, adhesiolysis (surgical removal of |
| noted in the Chinese medical literature. Dr. Fu Kezhi, at | | | | adhesions), except for serious problems like bowel |
| the Harbin office of ITM, carried out a literature search, | | | | obstruction may be pointless. In around 70 per cent of |
| yielding several studies summarized here. | | | | cases, the operation to remove the original adhesions |
| Chinese medicine has been applied both to prevention | | | | will cause more adhesions to develop. The risks, |
| of adhesions and to their treatment when they cause | | | | benefits and alternatives to surgery must be discussed |
| bowel blockage. | | | | thoroughly before any decision is made. |