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Adhesive disease.

Adhesive disease is the name of a pathological condition characterized by the formation of adhesions in the abdominal cavity - bands of connective tissue. The process of adhesion formation is a protective reaction of the body, aimed at delimiting foci of infection and inflammation, foreign bodies and intestinal contents that have entered the peritoneal cavity with penetrating wounds in the abdomen or as a result of intestinal perforation, during surgery and pressure sores of hollow organs.

The formation of adhesions is, in fact, the process of proliferation (proliferation) of connective tissue cells, the rate of which is higher than the rate of work of cytokines as factors of cellular immunity in the area of inflammation. In case of abdominal injuries associated with operations, wounds or ruptures, the fibrin protein produced at the time of thrombus formation enters the interstitial space and turns into connective tissue.

The formation of adhesions is not for nothing called a pathological process. The danger to the body in the case of adhesive disease lies in the fact that adhesions of the abdominal cavity can cause adhesions (interintestinal, intestinal - parietal, parietal - omental), which in turn cause strangulation (infringement) of the movable parts of the intestine, that is, do not allow them to move in the abdominal cavity. And this leads to another pathological process - intestinal obstruction.

Signs of adhesive disease:

Aching pain in the abdomen,
Pulling discomfort in the peritoneum (when moving, turning the body),
dyspepsia,
Attacks of intestinal obstruction.

Adhesive disease can develop acutely or become chronic. In the acute form of adhesive disease, all of the above symptoms appear suddenly, and their intensity rapidly increases.

To make an accurate diagnosis in case of suspected adhesive disease, abdominal echography, X-ray examination of the intestine using a barium mixture (irrigoscopy) are used. Since adhesive disease is often accompanied by intestinal obstruction, as a result of diagnostics, the presence or absence of this pathology is revealed, and depending on the results of the diagnosis, surgical or conservative treatment is prescribed.

Treatment of adhesive disease includes two stages:

preparatory preoperative stage,
laparoscopy.

Preoperative measures involve:

Restoration of intestinal microflora,
Vitamin therapy with vitamin E,
Physiotherapy: phonophoresis of the anterior abdominal wall.

Laparoscopic operation aims to sever adhesions bloodlessly where possible, and dissect adhesions with simultaneous coagulation, if they cannot be separated.

The prevention of adhesive disease is not an easy matter, a lot depends on the surgeon, his ability to select such methods of surgical intervention, surgical instruments that would allow the operation to be performed with the least trauma and minimize the future adhesive process. But it is not possible to completely exclude the formation of adhesions in the postoperative period if abdominal operations are performed.

In the postoperative period, the patient is required to start an independent rise from bed as early as possible so that the natural movements of the intestines in the abdominal cavity do not give the opportunity for adhesions to occur . After the surgical wounds have healed completely, lead an active lifestyle as much as possible or do physical exercises that are affordable for health. Monitor nutrition by choosing foods for food that enhance intestinal motility and the rapid evacuation of food debris (foods containing a lot of fiber). Avoid eating foods that cause gas formation (legumes, smoked meats, carbonated drinks, beer, yeast products). Prevent or promptly treat intestinal dysbiosis, colitis, fight constipation.