Trauma is frequently a major contributor to the formation of adhesions.
It has been shown that adhesions which form or develop after surgery are
a result of the body's normal healing process. During a surgical
procedure blood flow often must be disrupted by the cutting, coagulation
or tying of sutures. This disruption can result in ischemia(lack of
blood supply). This can also lead to inflammation and cause adhesion
formation. Foreign bodies can also cause an inflammatory reaction in
the body. A foreign body can be suture material, lint from sponges, or
talc from gloves. Local cells respond to the foreign body causing cells
to release factors that incite an inflammatory reaction and adhesions
may result. Hemorrhage or bleeding brings blood products into the
operating field. The raw surfaces from the operation plus the blood
from tissues can enhance the formation of adhesions. Infection from a
variety of sources, endometriosis, or plevic inflammatory disease can
cause inflammation which results in adhesion formation. What can be
done? Surgeons have developed microsurgical techniques that minimize
trauma, ischemia, foreign bodies, hemorrhage, raw surfaces and infection
to reduce adhesion formation. These principles are important to keep
the formation of adhesions to a minimum. Sherry Marie