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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
Creation of Abdominal Adhesions in Mice
Published on: August 27, 2016
Reduced adhesion formation following laparoscopic versus open colorectal surgery
H M Dowson1, J J Bong, D P Lovell
1Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK. hdowson@doctors.org.uk
Background:
Adhesion formation is common after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to compare the extent of adhesion formation following laparoscopic and open colorectal surgery.
Methods:
An observational study was undertaken to identify adhesions in patients undergoing laparoscopy after previous laparoscopic or open colectomy. Adhesions were scored according to a system validated for interobserver (median kappa = 0.80) and intraobserver (kappa = 0.82) agreement. The primary endpoint was the overall adhesion score (0-10); a secondary endpoint was the adhesion score at the main incision site (0-6).
Results:
Forty-six patients were recruited (13 laparoscopic and 33 open colectomy). In most patients (n = 29), laparoscopy was performed for tumour staging before liver resection. The median (interquartile range) overall adhesion score was 7 (5-8) in the open group and 0 (0-3) in the laparoscopic group (P < 0.001). A similar difference was found for the main incision score: 6 (4-6) versus 0 (0-0) (P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
There may be a reduction in adhesion formation following laparoscopic compared with open colectomy, although the small sample size limits this conclusion.
