[Therapeutic possibilities in adhesions]

Laparotomy was performed on 36 patients with persistent "adhesion complaints". Good therapeutic success was obtained from detachment of omental adhesions on the abdominal wall and of omental cords from the minor pelvis as well as from adhesiolysis in the hypogastric region. No peritoneal adhesions at all were recorded from nine patients, although they had undergone several operations before. Complaints were removed from one third of all patients, while nearly 20 per cent were improved. One death occurred, following exploratory laparotomy, due to stress-induced ulcer perforation. No peritoneal adhesion had been present in that case. No complications at all were experienced with any of the other patients.