Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Editor biographies
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Introduction
- Part I Medical management
- Part II Surgical procedures and their complications
- 42 Tracheostomy
- 43 Thyroidectomy
- 44 Parathyroidectomy
- 45 Lumpectomy and mastectomy
- 46 Gastric procedures (including laparoscopic antireflux, gastric bypass, and gastric banding)
- 47 Small bowel resection
- 48 Appendectomy
- 49 Colon resection
- 50 Abdominoperineal resection
- 51 Anal operations
- 52 Cholecystectomy
- 53 Common bile duct exploration
- 54 Major hepatic resection
- 55 Splenectomy
- 56 Pancreatoduodenal resection
- 57 Adrenal surgery
- 58 Lysis of adhesions
- 59 Ventral hernia repair
- 60 Inguinal hernia repair
- 61 Laparotomy in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection
- 62 Abdominal trauma
- 63 Coronary artery bypass procedures
- 64 Cardiac rhythm management
- 65 Aortic valve surgery
- 66 Mitral valve surgery
- 67 Ventricular assist devices and cardiac transplantation
- 68 Pericardiectomy
- 69 Pulmonary lobectomy
- 70 Pneumonectomy
- 71 Hiatal hernia repair
- 72 Esophagogastrectomy
- 73 Colon interposition for esophageal bypass
- 74 Carotid endarterectomy
- 75 Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
- 76 Aortobifemoral bypass grafting
- 77 Femoropopliteal bypass grafting
- 78 Lower extremity embolectomy
- 79 Treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia
- 80 Inferior vena cava filters
- 81 Portal shunting procedures
- 82 Breast reconstruction after mastectomy
- 83 Facial rejuvenation
- 84 Liposuction
- 85 Repair of facial fractures
- 86 Flap coverage for pressure sores
- 87 Muscle flap coverage of sternal wound infections
- 88 Skin grafting for burns
- 89 Abdominal hysterectomy
- 90 Vaginal hysterectomy
- 91 Uterine curettage
- 92 Radical hysterectomy
- 93 Vulvectomy
- 94 Craniotomy for brain tumor
- 95 Intracranial aneurysm surgery
- 96 Evacuation of subdural hematomas
- 97 Stereotactic procedures
- 98 Transsphenoidal surgery
- 99 Treatment of herniated disk
- 100 General considerations in ophthalmic surgery
- 101 Cataract surgery
- 102 Corneal transplantation
- 103 Vitreoretinal surgery
- 104 Glaucoma surgery
- 105 Refractive surgery
- 106 Eye muscle surgery
- 107 Enucleation, evisceration and exenteration
- 108 Arthroscopic knee surgery
- 109 Total knee replacement
- 110 Total hip replacement
- 111 Fractures of the femoral shaft
- 112 Surgery for hip fractures
- 113 Lumbar spine surgery
- 114 Surgery for scoliosis or kyphosis in adults
- 115 Surgery of the foot and ankle
- 116 Lower extremity amputations
- 117 Surgical procedures for rheumatoid arthritis
- 118 Otologic surgery
- 119 Myringotomy and tubes
- 120 Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
- 121 Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
- 122 Endoscopic sinus surgery
- 123 Cleft palate surgery
- 124 Facial surgery
- 125 Tracheotomy
- 126 Surgical management of head and neck cancer
- 127 Anterior cranial base surgery
- 128 Surgery for syndromic craniosynostosis
- 129 Nephrectomy
- 130 Cystectomy and urinary diversion
- 131 Radical prostatectomy
- 132 Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
- 133 Interstitial laser thermal therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia
- 134 Management of upper urinary tract calculi
- 135 Female urinary incontinence surgery
- Index
- References
58 - Lysis of adhesions
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 January 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Editor biographies
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Introduction
- Part I Medical management
- Part II Surgical procedures and their complications
- 42 Tracheostomy
- 43 Thyroidectomy
- 44 Parathyroidectomy
- 45 Lumpectomy and mastectomy
- 46 Gastric procedures (including laparoscopic antireflux, gastric bypass, and gastric banding)
- 47 Small bowel resection
- 48 Appendectomy
- 49 Colon resection
- 50 Abdominoperineal resection
- 51 Anal operations
- 52 Cholecystectomy
- 53 Common bile duct exploration
- 54 Major hepatic resection
- 55 Splenectomy
- 56 Pancreatoduodenal resection
- 57 Adrenal surgery
- 58 Lysis of adhesions
- 59 Ventral hernia repair
- 60 Inguinal hernia repair
- 61 Laparotomy in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection
- 62 Abdominal trauma
- 63 Coronary artery bypass procedures
- 64 Cardiac rhythm management
- 65 Aortic valve surgery
- 66 Mitral valve surgery
- 67 Ventricular assist devices and cardiac transplantation
- 68 Pericardiectomy
- 69 Pulmonary lobectomy
- 70 Pneumonectomy
- 71 Hiatal hernia repair
- 72 Esophagogastrectomy
- 73 Colon interposition for esophageal bypass
- 74 Carotid endarterectomy
- 75 Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
- 76 Aortobifemoral bypass grafting
- 77 Femoropopliteal bypass grafting
- 78 Lower extremity embolectomy
- 79 Treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia
- 80 Inferior vena cava filters
- 81 Portal shunting procedures
- 82 Breast reconstruction after mastectomy
- 83 Facial rejuvenation
- 84 Liposuction
- 85 Repair of facial fractures
- 86 Flap coverage for pressure sores
- 87 Muscle flap coverage of sternal wound infections
- 88 Skin grafting for burns
- 89 Abdominal hysterectomy
- 90 Vaginal hysterectomy
- 91 Uterine curettage
- 92 Radical hysterectomy
- 93 Vulvectomy
- 94 Craniotomy for brain tumor
- 95 Intracranial aneurysm surgery
- 96 Evacuation of subdural hematomas
- 97 Stereotactic procedures
- 98 Transsphenoidal surgery
- 99 Treatment of herniated disk
- 100 General considerations in ophthalmic surgery
- 101 Cataract surgery
- 102 Corneal transplantation
- 103 Vitreoretinal surgery
- 104 Glaucoma surgery
- 105 Refractive surgery
- 106 Eye muscle surgery
- 107 Enucleation, evisceration and exenteration
- 108 Arthroscopic knee surgery
- 109 Total knee replacement
- 110 Total hip replacement
- 111 Fractures of the femoral shaft
- 112 Surgery for hip fractures
- 113 Lumbar spine surgery
- 114 Surgery for scoliosis or kyphosis in adults
- 115 Surgery of the foot and ankle
- 116 Lower extremity amputations
- 117 Surgical procedures for rheumatoid arthritis
- 118 Otologic surgery
- 119 Myringotomy and tubes
- 120 Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
- 121 Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
- 122 Endoscopic sinus surgery
- 123 Cleft palate surgery
- 124 Facial surgery
- 125 Tracheotomy
- 126 Surgical management of head and neck cancer
- 127 Anterior cranial base surgery
- 128 Surgery for syndromic craniosynostosis
- 129 Nephrectomy
- 130 Cystectomy and urinary diversion
- 131 Radical prostatectomy
- 132 Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
- 133 Interstitial laser thermal therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia
- 134 Management of upper urinary tract calculi
- 135 Female urinary incontinence surgery
- Index
- References
Summary
Adhesions from previous abdominal operations are the most common cause of mechanical small bowel obstruction in adults. In the past, attempts to limit the number and magnitude of postoperative adhesions through instillation of agents such as heparin and hydroxyethyl starch into the peritoneal cavity proved unsuccessful. In recent years, a number of newer compounds such as oxidized, regenerated cellulose or the combination of sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethyl cellulose were approved by the FDA and are now in widespread use.
Patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction present with either partial or complete obstruction. In patients who are still passing flatus and have only moderate cramping, minimal abdominal distention, and display no signs of peritonitis, a trial period of nasogastric tube suction, hydration, and observation is worthwhile. Laparotomy has been avoided in 40% of such patients with nasogastric tube decompression and in 70% to 90% with endoscopic placement of long intestinal tubes. Patients with a history of complete bowel obstruction or with closed loop obstruction (steady pain), elevated temperature, signs of peritonitis on examination, progressive leukocytosis, or a “stepladder” appearance of dilated intestinal loops on flat plate radiographs of the abdomen should undergo urgent operation. Ischemia and even gangrene of the obstructed bowel can occur in the absence of the classical symptoms and signs.
Dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities (hyponatremic hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis) are common in patients with repeated episodes of vomiting related to proximal obstruction of the small bowel.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Medical Management of the Surgical PatientA Textbook of Perioperative Medicine, pp. 557 - 558Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2006