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Adhesion formation after abdominal and pelvic surgery can cause small bowel obstruction, female infertility, difficulties at reoperation, and chronic abdominal pain. To estimate the disease burden of these complications, investigators in the Netherlands conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 196 studies that involved 151,000 patients.
Overall incidence of postoperative small bowel obstruction from any cause at any time after surgery was 9%. In studies in which causes of postoperative small bowel obstruction were confirmed, adhesions were the most common cause (56%). Incidence of adhesive small bowel obstruction varied with previous surgery: pediatric surgery, 4.2%; lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract surgery, 3.2%; urological surge…