title: Are skin scar characteristics associated with the degree of pelvic adhesions at laparoscopy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether individual or a combination of abdominal surgical scar characteristics can predict the severity and extent of intra-abdominal adhesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary referral center in the United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred women who had previously undergone abdominopelvic surgery and were undergoing an elective laparoscopic gynecologic operations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Abdominal scars were evaluated preoperatively using the modified Manchester Scar Questionnaire Adhesions were assessed intraoperatively and compared with the cutaneous findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Presence and severity of intra-abdominal adhesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 100 women recruited into this study, 71 (71%) women were found to have intra-abdominal Aadhesions, and 29 (29%) had no adhesions. Women who had more than one abdominal scar, a palpable scar, and/or a longer scar were most likely to have pelvic adhesions during the current surgery. Women with the highest mean scar scores also had a greater total adhesion score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adhesions are a common postoperative consequence of open or laparoscopic surgery. Skin scar characteristics are associated with the presence and degree of pelvic adhesions. Future studies should examine whether these characteristics can be used as a preoperative predictive tool to facilitate surgical decision-making and elective operating room organization.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom. Electronic address: l.stocker@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Linden J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Stocker
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Glazebrook
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ying C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Cheong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Adhesion; laparoscopy; scar; skin