Adhäsionen

Adhäsionen, commonly known as adhesions, are bands of scar-like tissue that can form within the body, typically connecting organs or tissues that are not normally joined. These fibrous bands can develop after surgery, as a result of inflammation, infection, or trauma. While often asymptomatic, adhesions can cause a range of problems, including chronic pain and bowel obstruction.

The formation of adhesions is a natural part of the healing process. When tissues are injured, the body initiates a repair mechanism that involves the deposition of fibrin. Normally, fibrin is broken down by enzymes. However, if the healing process is disrupted, or if there is excessive inflammation, fibrin can persist and mature into dense, fibrous scar tissue. This scar tissue then binds to surrounding structures, creating adhesions.

The consequences of adhesions depend on their location and extent. In the abdomen, they are a frequent cause of small bowel obstruction, a serious condition where the passage of food and waste through the intestines is blocked. Adhesions can also lead to chronic abdominal pain, infertility in women by distorting reproductive organs, and difficulties during subsequent surgeries. Treatment for symptomatic adhesions may involve pain management or surgical lysis, the process of cutting the adhesions to release the affected organs. Prevention strategies, particularly in surgical settings, aim to minimize tissue trauma and inflammation.