Aderências

Aderências, also known as adhesions, are bands of scar tissue that can form between organs and tissues within the body. They are typically formed as a result of the body's natural healing process following surgery, infection, or inflammation. While adhesions are a common occurrence and often asymptomatic, they can sometimes cause complications.

The formation of adhesions involves the deposition of fibrous connective tissue. This can occur when surfaces that are normally separate, such as loops of the intestine or organs within the abdomen, come into contact with each other during healing. The body's attempt to repair damaged tissue can lead to the abnormal joining of these surfaces.

In many cases, adhesions do not cause any symptoms and are discovered incidentally during medical imaging or surgery for other conditions. However, when adhesions are extensive or located in critical areas, they can lead to problems. One common complication is a bowel obstruction, where adhesions constrict or block the passage of food and waste through the intestines. Adhesions can also contribute to chronic pain, particularly in the pelvic region, and can be a cause of infertility in women by interfering with the function of the reproductive organs.

Diagnosis of symptomatic adhesions often relies on a combination of medical history, physical examination, and imaging studies such as CT scans or ultrasounds. Treatment depends on the severity of symptoms and may involve conservative management with pain medication or dietary changes, or surgical intervention to remove the adhesions. Surgical removal, often performed laparoscopically, aims to release the constricted tissues and restore normal function.