Pelvic Adhesions (scar tissue) / Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

From: Helen Dynda (olddad66@runestone.net)
Sun Oct 21 16:47:13 2001


[]] Pelvic Adhesions (scar tissue) / Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

http://home.mpinet.net/dahmd/adhesions.html Pelvic adhesions are bands of scar tissue that form between organs in the pelvic area. They are caused by infection, inflammation, endometriosis - or as areas heal from surgery. In many cases these adhesions are painless and the patient never knows she has them; while in other cases they cause a sharp, pulling type of pain or pain with intercourse or bowel movements.

Pelvic adhesions can be filmy (kind of like sheets of saran wrap) or thick. Some contain small blood vessels. If they involve the fallopian tubes, they can cause infertility or lead to tubal (ectopic) pregnancies. If they are above the liver, they can cause pain with deep breathing. If near the vagina, there can be pain with intercourse. And, if they involve the intestines, there can be pain with exercising, reaching for objects above one's head, or when stretching.

They are diagnosed by laparoscopy (putting a thin tube in the belly button to look around the pelvic area during surgery); and are treated by cutting with small scissors or other cutting devices. Unfortunately, sometimes they return; and in these cases either further surgery or treatment with various pain medications is used. Gynecologists know that - for reasons we don't understand - the female organs tend to produce scar tissue when irritated. For this reason, we take great care in handling these organs and tissues during surgery to minimize the chance of scar tissue formation.

Click on the description below to view the larger JPG image of pelvic adhesions. (If the following kinds of adhesions are not underlined and highlighted, go to the above website and scroll down.)

Pelvic adhesions due to pelvic inflammatory disease.

Adhesions between intestines and top of abdomen.

Laparoscopic scissors, cutting adhesion band.

Adhesions between liver and diaphragm due to PID.

Click here to go to main image index page.


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