Post-cesarean adhesions--are they a unique entity?
OBJECTIVE
The connection between adhesions and post-operative symptoms is well established. Adhesions are found in nearly half of the women at the time of their repeat cesarean section. For the first time a prospective pilot study has been done in order to evaluate the clinical significance of post-cesarean adhesions.


METHODS
Fifty women who underwent cesarean section in their first pregnancy were interviewed prior to their repeat operation regarding their symptoms after the first surgery. The clinical history was correlated with the findings during the second intervention.


RESULTS
No correlation was found between the clinical symptoms and the operative findings regarding abdominal pains, urinary symptoms, dyspareunia, or dysmenorrhea. Surprisingly, although non-significant, women with adhesions reported fewer postoperative gastrointestinal symptoms than the women with no adhesions.


CONCLUSIONS
More studies will have to been done, but the analysis of this pilot study supports the hypothesis that adhesions following cesarean section are a unique entity.
Stark
Michael
M
The New European Surgical Academy (NESA), Berlin, Germany. mstark@nesacademy.org
Hoyme
Udo B
UB
Stubert
Bernd
B
Kieback
Dirk
D
di Renzo
Gian Carlo
GC
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012107:Research Design; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology