Abdominal adhesions: current and novel therapies.
An adhesion occurs when two tissues that normally freely move past each other attach via a fibrous bridge. Abdominal adhesions place a tremendous clinical and financial burden on public health. Adhesions develop after nearly every abdominal surgery, commonly causing female infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and, most frequently, small bowel obstruction. A National Hospital Discharge Survey of hospitalizations between 1998 and 2002 reported that 18.1% of hospitalizations were related to abdominal adhesions annually accounting for 948,000 days of inpatient care at an estimated cost of $1.18 billion. This review discusses the current or proposed therapies for abdominal adhesions. While many therapies for abdominal adhesions have been attempted, the need for a definitive therapy to prevent or even reduce abdominal adhesions still exists.
Ward
Brian C
BC
Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA. apanitch@purdue.edu
Panitch
Alyssa
A
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D002483:Cellulose, Oxidized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*
D002483:Cellulose, Oxidized; C060002:INTERCEED; C118198:Seprafilm; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid