A randomized clinical trial on the benefit of adhesiolysis in patients with intraperitoneal adhesions and chronic pelvic pain.
OBJECTIVE
To see whether surgical adhesiolysis would improve pelvic pain in women with pelvic adhesions.


METHODS
Randomized clinical trial comparing surgery (adhesiolysis) with no surgery with final analysis of results after 9-12 months.


METHODS
Department of Gynecology, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands.


METHODS
48 women known by laparoscopy to have stage II-IV pelvic adhesions.


METHODS
Midline laparotomy and surgical adhesiolysis.


RESULTS
Pelvic pain assessed by the McGill pain score, subjective pain assessment and disturbance of daily activities.


RESULTS
24 women were randomly allocated to undergo surgical adhesiolysis and 24 to a control group who did not have surgery. After 9-12 months there were no significant differences between the two groups overall with regard to pelvic pain. A subgroup of women with severe, vascularized and dense adhesions involving bowel (stage IV) had significantly less pelvic pain after adhesiolysis for two of the three methods of assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
Adhesiolysis for the treatment of pelvic pain is not indicated in women with light or moderate degree pelvic adhesions. It may be beneficial in those with severe adhesions involving the intestinal tract.
Peters
A A
AA
Department of Gynaecology, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
Trimbos-Kemper
G C
GC
Admiraal
C
C
Trimbos
J B
JB
Hermans
J
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery