[The place of pelvic adhesions in gynecology. Possibilities of prevention]

Abstract

The authors review the recent international literature dealing with the role of pelvic adhesions in gynaecologic surgery. They point out that pelvic adhesions can be detected via laparatomy or laparoscopy in every third patient suffering from chronic pelvic pain, whereas abdominal adhesions revealed rarely correlate with anamnestic chronic pelvic pain. Correlation of pelvic pain and adhesions is neither consequent nor mutual. Lacking more detailed information on the pathomechanism of pain, the role of the vegetative innervation of the visceral and parietal peritoneum and of the excitation of the nerve fibers in the neoformed-and vascularized adhesions can only be postulated. According to the attractive but not well established theory extensive adhesions can directly provoke pain through fixing the pelvic organs hampering their motility and mobility. It is generally accepted, that lysis of adhesions in symptomatic patients can resolve or reduce the complaints. However the duration of the beneficial effect and its transitoric or definitive nature cannot be predicted in advance. Subsequently the authors review the adjuvant methods complementary to microsurgical techniques possibly preventing the formation and neoformation of pelvic adhesions. Despite of general acceptance and widespread usage, the effectiveness of crystalloids, macromolecular solutions, intraperitoneal heparin and steroids in the prevention of adhesions cannot be scientifically supported. The encouraging results already achieved by mechanical barriers (intercede, Gore-Tex) can hopefully be surpassed by biodegradable barriers actually studied in animal models.