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Symptoms of Abdominal Adhesions

Abdominal adhesions are bands of scarlike tissue that form between internal organs and abdominal tissue. These organs and tissue are usually slick enough to move when the body moves, but when abdominal adhesions form, they stick together. These adhesions can cause pain, infertility and intestinal obstruction.

  1. Symptoms

    • Chronic pain in the abdomen and pelvis are the most common symptoms of abdominal adhesions, though most cause no symptoms. Pain from abdominal adhesions is sometimes thought to be from other conditions, such as endometriosis and appendicitis.

    Infertility

    • Infertility is a symptom of abdominal adhesions, which can twist or pull the uterus out of place. This keeps eggs from getting to the uterus.

    Intestinal Obstruction

    • Abdominal adhesions cause intestinal obstruction by twisting or pulling intestines out of place. This interferes with food or stool moving through the intestines.

    Intestinal Obstruction Symptoms

    • Symptoms of an intestinal obstruction caused by abdominal adhesions include constipation, a swollen abdomen, vomiting, cramping and severe abdominal pain.

    Surgical Symptoms

    • Most abdominal adhesions don't cause problems and don't need treatment. Abdominal adhesions that cause pain, infertility and intestinal obstruction are treated with surgery. Some intestinal obstructions can be treated with changes in diet.

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