Postoperative adhesions and small bowel obstruction - New insights

Abstract

Patients having surgical procedures below the level of the transverse colon are at risk of adhesion formation. Small bowel obstruction is the commonest presenting feature of adhesions, is estimated that up to 10 percent of patients undergoing laparotomy will require re-operation for adhesions in a life time. Economic implications, the nature of adhesions formation and its aetiology to formulate methods of prevention is discussed in the article