Adhesion Formation in Patients with Previous Laparotomies

We evaluated 50 women who had had a previous laparotomy to determine the extent of adhesion formation. Patients were grouped according to previous obstetric and gynecologic surgery. The reason for laparoscopy was generally pelvic pain or infertility, and in some women with no complaint, for evaluation. Women with several incisions did not have more adhesions than those with a single one. Those with midline incisions had more adhesions than those with Pfannenstiel incisions. Women with midline or Pfannenstiel incisions for gynecologic surgery had more adhesions than those with incisions for obstetric surgery.