Adhesions and Endometriosis
Tuesday, September 4, 2007

In today’s 60 second housecall, Dr. Ken Davis explains abdominal adhesions, the problems they can cause and how to treat them.

Adhesion is a term used for abdominal and pelvic organs that get stuck together.  The pelvic and abdominal organs are protected by a thin membrane called the peritoneum.  When this peritoneal membrane is damaged, it can become sticky and glue the organs together. 

The most common causes of peritoneal damage and adhesions include:

-    Infection

-    Surgery

-    Endometriosis, or cells from the lining of the uterus that implant in the abdominal cavity

About 30 percent of patients with adhesions will have problems including: chronic abdomen and pelvic pain, intestinal

obstruction, painful intercourse, and infertility.  Adhesions can make future abdominal or pelvic surgery much more

complicated. 

Options for treatment include:

 -    Conservative approach to see if the symptoms clear over time

-    Medical therapy for pain relief and treatment of symptoms, or

-   Surgery to release the adhesions.  This may include a hysterectomy for chronic pelvic pain or laparoscopic surgery to free up the organs by cutting the adhesions.

For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.