Surgical Adhesions

[CrohnieToo]

How long after surgery can adhesions continue to form?

I have had Crohn's disease since 1975. In the 1970s I had a pubic "smiley" incision for a tubal ligation, bladder and uterine suspension and a couple of years later a full open abdomen incision for a resection of 18" of the mid ileum.

I'm aware that all surgery creates some scar tissue or adhesions. What I am curious about is how long these adhesions can keep forming?

I've gone all these years w/no problems from any adhesions from these two surgeries (only surgeries I've had) but my last Small Bowel Follow Thru "the distal ileum appears to extend to the left side and then turn and cross over to the right to reach the cecum". I saw the films as well and it does appear that the small intestine clumps to the left. They did not have this appearance in 2003. Could it be adhesions causing this at this late date so many years after surgery?

[Marijke]

The Crohns itself can cause you to have more adhesions. However for future surgeries make sure they will never use any powdered surgical gloves (even washing the powder off does not help). Powder from gloves is known to cause adhesions, something which has been known since 1948! But only know we are getting away from using powdered gloves.

I hope you wont need any surgery for a long long time to come!

Marijke

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

To the OP - please pose these questions to your PCP/surgeon. They are the only one who needs to be advising you regarding formation of adhesions years after the fact.