Effect of surgical technique on peritoneal adhesion reformation after lysis

The effectiveness of macrosurgical and microsurgical techniques for adhesion management was evaluated in nonpregnant female baboons that had significant pelvic adhesions as a sequela of previous surgery. Two weeks after the initial laparotomy the animals were reoperated upon and adhesion reformation assessed. Mean adhesion scores were not significantly different between the macrosurgery and microsurgery groups before or after lysis. However, the reduction in the mean adhesion score following lysis approached significance (P less than 0.1) in the microsurgical group, whereas it did not in the macrosurgical group. This study does not confirm that the use of microsurgery in adhesion management is clearly superior but does suggest it may be slightly more effective in reducing adhesion reformation.