Understanding Lysis of Adhesions

 How to say it

LY-sihs ad-HEE-shuhnz

Why lysis of adhesions is done

Adhesions can cause severe, ongoing pain. Cutting the adhesions helps ease this pain. Adhesions can also cause blockage of the intestines. This blockage can lead to serious symptoms, such as severe pain and vomiting. It can also cause long-term (permanent) damage to the intestines and can even be fatal. Adhesions in the pelvis can also cause infertility in women. Lysis of adhesions is done to prevent or treat these problems.

How lysis of adhesions is done

Lysis of adhesions may be done using laparoscopy. This method uses a few small cuts (incisions) in your belly (abdomen). Or it may be done as open surgery, with a large cut.

1. You are given medicine (general anesthesia). This puts you into a deep sleep through the procedure.

2. For a laparoscopy, the surgeon makes 2 to 4 small incisions in your belly. A long, thin, lighted tube (laparoscope) with a camera on the end is placed in one of the cuts. The tube sends pictures of your belly to a video screen. This lets your surgeon see inside your belly. Tiny surgical tools are put through the other small cuts. The surgeon fills your belly with carbon dioxide. This gas makes more room in your belly so the surgeon can see and work more easily. If open surgery is done, the surgeon makes a large cut in your belly. The laparoscope is not used.

3. The surgeon cuts and removes the adhesions. This lets the organs move more freely.

4. When the surgery is done, the scope and other tools are removed. The cuts are closed.

Risks of lysis of adhesions

Risks of this surgery include:

• Infection.

• Bleeding.

• Incisional hernia.

• Damage to abdominal organs.

• Need to switch to open surgery.

• Return of the adhesions.

• Risks of anesthesia.

• Death (rare).