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  • Review Article
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Postoperative abdominal adhesions and their prevention in gynaecological surgery. Expert consensus position. Part 2—steps to reduce adhesions

Abstract

This consensus position represents the collective views of 35 gynaecologists with a recognised interest in adhesions. The first part of the position was presented in the previous issue of Gynecological Surgery and reviewed the published literature on the extent of the problem of adhesions. In this part, the opportunities to reduce their incidence are considered. Collective proposals on the actions that European gynaecologists should take to avoid causing adhesions are provided. Importantly, in this part, the need to now inform patients of the risks associated with adhesion-related complications during the consent process is discussed. With evidence increasing to support the efficacy of adhesion-reduction agents to complement good surgical practice, all surgeons should act now to reduce adhesions and fulfil their duty of care to patients.

Introduction

Adhesions are the most frequent complication of abdominal surgery and may represent one of the greatest unresolved medical problems in medicine today [1], yet, many surgeons are still not aware of the extent of the problem and its serious consequences.

Recent epidemiological data have demonstrated that, despite advances in surgical techniques in recent years, the burden of adhesion-related complications has not changed [2, 3]. While laparoscopic procedures are commonly believed to be less adhesiogenic and cause fewer de novo adhesions to form compared to open surgery [4, 5], for many procedures, the comparative risk of adhesion-related complications following open and laparoscopic gynaecological surgery is similar [3].

Developments in adhesion-reduction strategies and new agents do, however, now offer a realistic possibility of reducing the risk of adhesions forming and, thus, may improve the outcomes for patients and the associated onward burden. The importance of providing clear recommendations on adhesions and their prevention following gynaecological surgery is very apparent.

The paper details the second part of the project undertaken by the Expert Adhesions Working Party of the European Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESGE).

The first paper published in the previous issue of Gynecological Surgery provided an overview of the published literature on the extent of the problem of adhesions and, in this paper, the opportunities to reduce it are presented. A consensus of opinion on the actions that European gynaecologists should now take is provided. These proposals are collective opinions and should not be used for performance measures or competency purposes. Together, these two papers provide a collective consensus position which it is hoped will raise the level of awareness and the understanding of adhesions, and the associated healthcare burden and costs, thereby, encouraging heightened discussions and actions to address this area of unmet need.

Steps to reduce adhesions

The generally accepted method of reducing adhesions is a meticulous surgical technique [6] and, within that, the rules of microsurgery are fundamental [7]. In particular, they need to be re-emphasised in laparoscopic surgery and in the treatment of endometriosis, where there is heightened inflammatory response and angiogenesis, with a corresponding propensity for adhesion development [7] (Table 1).

Table 1 Adhesion-reduction steps

Many of the traumas that cause adhesions are a routine part of surgery and, even if adhesion-reduction strategies are adopted, there can be conflicts—meticulous haemostasis is very important but, to achieve this, limiting the use of cautery may be problematic. Therefore, even if meticulous and careful surgical technique is employed, postoperative adhesions are very common [8]. Any type of surgery (however experienced the surgeon) at any site can cause postoperative adhesions and, while surgeons should adopt the adhesion reduction steps as listed in Table 1 during all operations, these steps may not be sufficient to prevent adhesion formation, as evidenced by the SCAR study data [2, 3].

Importantly, while surgical adhesiolysis is the current method of managing adhesions, regardless of the method of adhesiolysis or the type of adhesion, it results in further traumatic disruption and a high rate of adhesion reformation (mean 85%), as well as the development of de novo adhesions [9]. Studies indicate that, compared with unaffected peritoneal tissue, adhesive tissue contains higher levels of growth factors, suggesting a greater propensity for adhesion reformation. These factors (fibroblast growth factor) depress fibrinolytic activity and induce tissue fibrosis and, thus, reformed adhesions tend to be more dense and severe than de novo adhesions [10, 11].

Adhesion-reduction agents

A number of adjuvants and strategies have been investigated, including both pharmacological agents and physical barriers. Decisions on which agent to use are made by the individual surgeon but there is a clear place for agents that are safe, simple to use, clinically effective and affordable.

The quality of research on the use of adhesion-reduction agents is, unfortunately, variable. Most studies have looked at reduction in adhesions as the endpoint. In the majority of cases, the studies have compared the use of an agent with no treatment, sometimes in the same patient. Few studies have been blinded, with most evaluations of adhesion reduction made by the operating surgeon. The variation in adhesion classifications, mode of application of agents, lack of uniformity in surgical approaches and variations in the interpretation of results all make the assessment of the efficacy of the many agents difficult and almost impossible to compare. There are very few studies that have looked at the impact of an agent on clinical outcomes, such as pregnancy, reduction in SBO or ease of reoperative surgery. This is largely because of the complexity of undertaking clinical outcome studies in surgery [12]. Looking at pregnancy as an outcome in women with infertility, which is multi-factorial, is problematic. Likewise, the number of patients needed to power a study to show a reduction in SBO is considerable [12], requiring many centres or a lengthy time period to undertake such work, which can lead to bias with inter-centre and inter-surgeon variables and changes in surgical practice [13]. To date, studies required for regulatory approvals of adhesion-reduction agents have focussed on adhesion reduction [14].

Pharmacological agents

The processes of adhesion formation present various theoretical opportunities for pharmacological intervention. A number of agents have been investigated, including antibiotics, NSAIDs, corticosteroids and fibrinolytics [15, 16]. To date, no clinical studies have shown adhesion-reduction benefits using pharmacological regimens [17] and there are safety concerns with some agents [18, 19]. Theoretically, drugs may be limited by their inability to reach the site and to stay there long enough to be effective [19], since surgical sites are often poorly vascularised, as are most injury sites. Rapid resorption through the peritoneal membrane occurs with small molecules, thus, removing many agents delivered intraperitoneally. Moreover, many processes involved in adhesion formation are also part of normal wound healing, so any pharmacological agent needs to reduce fibrin deposition, yet still allow for re-epithelialisation.

Research continues on a range of pharmacological agents but they are still at an experimental stage and the practical use of such agents in routine surgery is some way off.

Physical separators

Barriers are currently the only available adjuncts to reduce adhesion formation. The key requirement of any barrier is that it should effectively separate traumatised peritoneal surfaces during the critical period of adhesion development in the 3–5 days after surgery, during which, peritoneal healing occurs [20].

This separation can broadly be achieved by use of site-specific mechanical barriers (films and gels) or by the use of broad-coverage fluid agents to keep tissue surfaces physically separated during the healing process.

The available agents are summarised in Table 2 and outlined in the following sections.

Table 2 Overview of the available anti-adhesion agents

Site-specific mechanical barriers

These have been used for some time, initially in the form of omental or peritoneal grafting. More recently, inert barriers have been introduced to be used at the site of trauma; for example, over a suture line for procedures such as myomectomy.

Preclude® (Gore-tex—expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE)

One of the first physical membranes used was Preclude®. It has to be sutured in place and is not resorbable, so it has to be removed at a second laparoscopy, which substantially limits its applicability in peritoneal surgery. Preclude® is rarely used in Europe and resorbable barriers have subsequently been introduced which have greater clinical utility.

Interceed® (oxidised regenerated cellulose)

The first resorbable membrane was Interceed®, first introduced in 1990. It forms a viscous gel when it comes into contact with fluids and is completely resorbed after 4 weeks. It can be used at most intraperitoneal locations and in laparoscopic as well as open surgery—although laparoscopic application is challenging [21]. Meticulous haemostasis is important, as the efficacy of the product is reduced in the presence of blood [22, 23]. There is substantial literature on the use of Interceed® in gynaecological surgery and the product has been shown to reduce adhesion formation without affecting wound healing [2431]. However, the quality of many of the studies is limited by study design, with surgery only as the control. Although a systematic review of the literature in 1999 concluded that no study reported pregnancy or the reduction of pain as an outcome [25], more recent work with Interceed® indicated that its effect on reducing adhesions results in improved pregnancy outcomes in infertile patients [29]. While the number of patients in this study was limited, the use of Interceed® resulted in a significant increase in the pregnancy rate compared to surgical controls. These results are very important for all anti-adhesion agents, as they show that adhesion reduction using an anti-adhesion agent is a valid endpoint.

Seprafilm® (hyaluronic acid/carboxymethylcellulose)

Seprafilm® is another barrier film [32, 33], which is usually placed over a suture line. It persists during the period of re-epithelialisation and is absorbed spontaneously. Seprafilm® does not conform to the shape of the pelvic organs as well as Interceed® and is usually used as a barrier placed between the bowel or omentum and the anterior abdominal wall at the time of wound closure, where it can prevent adherence and, potentially, reduce the risk of enterotomy at subsequent surgery. It is generally difficult to handle and its use in laparoscopic surgery is not realistic. Alongside the main pivotal studies [32, 33], there is mounting literature on its use and it is the only agent to have been investigated for the reduction of SBO [34, 35]. This study reported a significant reduction in adhesive small bowel obstruction requiring reoperation by the use of Seprafilm® (1.6% absolute reduction) [35]. A mean of 4.5 sheets per patient was used to effect adequate coverage, which is costly [34, 35]. While the study also provided confirmation of general safety in colorectal surgery, it highlighted that the use of Seprafilm® at the site of an anastomosis is to be avoided, due to increased anastomotic leaks [34].

SurgiWrap® (polylactide: copolymer of 70:30 Poly [L-lactide-co-D,L lactide])

SurgiWrap® is a biodegradable polymer film which has a European device licence for the reduction of postoperative adhesions following abdominal, pelvic, gynaecological or cardiac surgery. The supplying company claims that the product has improved handling over alternative film products and a long resorption period of up to 6 months, after which, it is subsequently metabolised to lactic acid, CO2 and water. The polymer film needs to be sutured in place to prevent it from moving during this period. With the exception of one preclinical study in 44 rats [36], published data are lacking on which to assess the product’s safety or its efficacy in reducing peritoneal adhesions. In light of failures of other agents due to long-term safety concerns and in the absence of evidence of clinical efficacy, the use of SurgiWrap® as an adhesion-reduction agent is not to be encouraged at this time.

Gel barriers

A fundamental limitation of site-specific mechanical barriers is the requirement of the surgeon to predict where clinically significant adhesions are likely to form in order to decide where to place the product. In addition, site-specific barriers are difficult to use in laparoscopic surgery. As a result of these limitations, gel barriers have also been developed.

Hyalobarrier® (hyaluronic acid cross-linked to hyaluronic acid)

Hyalobarrier® is a viscous gel, available in Europe as an adhesion-reduction barrier for use after abdominopelvic surgery. It is similar in mode of action to local site-specific film barriers, as it stays at the site to which it is applied, dissolving some days later. There are few published clinical data: there is a small uncontrolled study in myomectomy by laparotomy [37] and two randomised, controlled studies in patients undergoing laparoscopic myomectomy [38, 39]. Although the studies only used limited numbers of patients, they showed a reduction in adhesions and, in the smaller study [38], the pregnancy rate in patients treated with Hyalobarrier® was significantly greater than in the control group (surgical treatment only) [40] and similar to that seen with Interceed® [29]. Hyalobarrier® is not widely available nor has it been adopted for clinical use in surgery, mainly because it is very sticky and has a tendency to float away from sites when irrigated. These mucoadhesive properties are essential for its efficacy and irrigation is not recommended. However, it has been researched for use in reducing intrauterine adhesions following hysteroscopic surgery with success [4143] and may be useful in this situation.

SprayGel® (synthetic polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions)

SprayGel® is a gel barrier coating system which was approved for use in laparoscopic and open surgery in Europe at the end of 2001. It consists of two water-based PEG solutions, one clear and one coloured with methylene blue, to make it easy to see where it has been used. When sprayed together, these two solutions react with each other at the target tissue, where they mix to form a hydrogel film that provides a physical barrier. This barrier remains in place for up to 7 days and is then absorbed and excreted through the kidneys.

In preliminary clinical trials, the use of SprayGel® resulted in a decrease in the incidence, severity and extent of post-surgical adhesion formation [44, 45]. A larger scale pivotal study had commenced in the USA but was then stopped due to lack of efficacy in the treatment compared to the control arm and has not, to date, been resumed.

The use of SprayGel® is limited by the complex setting up of the equipment and the skill and time required to spray and coat tissues evenly. It is also expensive. If there is extensive operative surgery in the pelvis as well as abdominal adhesiolysis, it may be necessary to use two kits and as many as five kits to effect adequate coverage of the complete peritoneal wound area [46].

Oxiplex®/AP (carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) composite gel)

Most recently, Oxiplex®/AP, a viscoelastic gel, has been approved for use in Europe as an adhesion-reduction barrier for abdominal/pelvic surgery. It has been used in another formulation for a number of years for the reduction of adhesions in spinal surgery [47]. Two clinical pilot studies in laparoscopic gynaecological surgery comparing use of this gel with no treatment have recently been published [48, 49]. They are primarily safety studies and are, thus, empowered to assess the safety and not the efficacy of the agent. However, in both studies, there was an improvement in the American Fertility Society (AFS) scores compared to the no-treatment controls and the European pilot study demonstrated a significant reduction in adnexal adhesions [48].

These gel agents, like the film barriers, are site-specific, requiring surgeons to predict sites at which adhesions may form and, thus, where the film barrier needs to be applied. However, the pathogenesis of adhesion formation reaches beyond the operative site of actual surgical trauma. The effects of ischaemia, heat, drying, handling and contamination mean that agents providing protection throughout the peritoneal cavity could be advantageous.

Broad-coverage fluid agents

Various broad-coverage agents have been developed but most have been abandoned (Hyskon® [50]) or withdrawn due to safety issues (Intergel® [51]) or the lack of efficacy (Hyskon® [52], Sepracoat®).

Hydroflotation has long been suggested as a technique that may be efficacious, both at the site of application and elsewhere in the pelvis. It involves the instillation of a fluid into the peritoneal cavity at the end of the procedure to provide a physical fluid barrier, preventing the apposition of damaged peritoneal surfaces. Saline, lactated Ringer’s solution or Hartmann’s solution have all been used widely. However, these crystalloid solutions are absorbed rapidly and do not reduce adhesions [53]. They are absorbed from the peritoneal cavity at the rate of 30–50 ml per hour, so that, by 24 hours after surgery, little, if any, solution is left in the pelvis [5456]. Studies have also shown that some irrigants, including lactated Ringer’s solution, can have deleterious effects on the delicate mesothelial lining of the peritoneum [57, 58].

Adept® (4% icodextrin solution)

Adept® is the single approved and available adhesion-reduction solution that has a sufficiently long intraperitoneal residence [59] to provide coverage throughout the peritoneal cavity and persist through the critical period of adhesion formation [20]. Adept® has been approved in Europe since 2000 as an adhesion-reduction agent in open and laparoscopic gynaecological and general surgery. In the USA, it was recently approved by the FDA for use as an irrigant and post-operative instillate in gynaecological laparoscopy with adhesiolysis. It is the first anti-adhesion agent to be granted such approval. Adept® is a non-viscous, iso-osmotic, clear solution which handles like normal saline, requires no change to surgical practice or any special training. It does not potentiate infection [60] and no differences have been demonstrated between Adept® and lactated Ringer’s solution (LRS) in the healing and strength of midline incisions and bowel anastomoses [61].

Early work with Adept® as an anti-adhesion agent showed that it is best used throughout surgery as an irrigant fluid to reduce dessication and following surgery as an instillate (1000 mL) [60, 62]; all work with Adept® has used this combined approach.

Initial clinical studies were encouraging [62] and, recently, efficacy has been further established in a pivotal randomised USA multi-centre study in gynaecological laparoscopy [63]. This study is the largest and the first double-blind study of an anti-adhesion agent. As well as confirming the safety of Adept®, the data demonstrate a significant reduction in adhesions throughout the peritoneal cavity when Adept® is used as an irrigant and post-operative instillate.

A European patient registry (ARIEL) for Adept® use was established alongside the formal clinical trial programme, providing surgeons’ feedback on the use and safety of Adept® in routine open and laparoscopic gynaecological [64] and general surgery [65] in 4,620 patients—2,882 of whom underwent gynaecological surgery (2,069 laparoscopy, 813 laparotomy). The study showed that, in routine use, Adept® is well tolerated by patients, is easy to use and has a good safety profile.

Areas of future research

Laparoscopic pneumoperitoneum

While it is widely considered that laparoscopy may be less adhesiogenic than laparotomy, there are some inconsistencies when epidemiological data on adhesion-related outcomes are considered [3]. Since laparoscopy is minimally invasive and, thus, associated with less surgical trauma than laparotomy, there is rising concern that the CO2 pneumoperitoneum may be an important adhesiogenic factor. This may be due to the CO2 inducing local changes such as intraperitoneal acidosis [6668] or, in the absence of moistening, dessication of the mesothelium [69]. The intraperitoneal pressure associated with prolonged pneumoperitoneum may also induce adverse effects on the microcirculation [70, 71], possibly inducing hypoxaemia [72]. This hypoxia, together with other mesothelial insult, may stimulate the expression of factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), resulting in an increase in adhesion formation [72]. As a result of this animal work, active research for other potential adhesion-reduction strategies involving insufflators has begun [73, 74].

Cost-effectiveness of anti-adhesion agents

Post-operative adhesions clearly have an important impact on the successful clinical outcome of surgery and pose an important cost burden. In considering the use of an adhesion-reduction agent, factors to be taken into consideration include not only its safety, ease of use and clinical efficacy, but also whether it is cost-effective. While it is difficult to evaluate the impact that an anti-adhesion agent will have on subsequent clinical outcomes and, thus, whether it will be cost-effective [12], it is possible to model this.

Epidemiological data from the SCAR study [75] have been used to model the cumulative costs over time of adhesion-related hospital readmissions following surgery with or without the use of an adhesion-reduction agent [12] and have recently been updated with the costs of inflation. This model is helpful in understanding the value of different adhesion-reduction agents and suggests that a suitably priced and effective agent can result in overall cost savings to a healthcare system. For example, agents costing around €130 only need to demonstrate a 26% reduction in adhesion-related readmissions 3 years after surgery to return their costs, whereas agents costing around €300 per operation would need to demonstrate at least a 60% reduction in adhesion-related readmissions 3 years after surgery to return the costs of their investment (Fig. 1) [12]. In either scenario, extension of the model assessment period beyond 3 years after surgery results in cost savings.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Cumulative costs of adhesion-related readmissions for 100 patients, following surgery with or without an adhesion-reduction agent. Modelled on the efficacy required to pay back the cost of treatment after 3 years [12] for €130 and €300 agent costs

It is clear from this that, in considering the choice of an adhesion-reduction agent, the cost as well as the clinical impact of the agent needs to be considered carefully. This is particularly the case if the prophylactic use of adhesion-reduction agents is to be adopted widely in routine surgery.

Advising patients and medicolegal considerations

Even with advances in surgical techniques, it is clear that adhesions remain a common consequence of surgery, with serious health implications for patients, including SBO, infertility and chronic pelvic pain. Even if adhesions are “silent,” posing no apparent issues for the patient, the risks of complications at reoperative surgery and late SBO onset are considerable.

Adhesion-related complications are increasingly becoming the subject of forensic and medicolegal debate and there is evidence that medicolegal litigation resulting from complications secondary to postoperative adhesion formation are adding to the healthcare costs and the clinician’s burden [76, 77].

In the consent process, it is recommended that patients should be advised of the reasons for and nature of the procedure, the benefits, risks, discomforts and alternatives and the consequences of not undergoing the procedure.

It is common practice in the consent process to advise patients of risks of complications, such as general anaesthesia (<1:100), and general complications after laparoscopic surgery, e.g. pain, bleeding, infection, damage to the bowel/bladder/urethra (1:1000 in sterilisations and 1:500 for other procedures) [78]. These risk ratios are less than the risk of a directly adhesion-related readmission (adhesiolysis) in the first year after surgery following a known high-risk laparoscopic procedure, such as an ovarian or tubal procedure, or open ovarian surgery (1:80 following laparoscopic surgery and 1:50 following open surgery). Even in patients undergoing other therapeutic laparoscopic surgery (excepting tubal sterilisations), the risk of a directly adhesion-related readmission is 1:70 and, for open surgery on the Fallopian tubes or uterus, it is 1:120 and 1:170, respectively, i.e. comparatively high [3].

The International Adhesions Society undertook a survey to review the information on adhesions that patients received [79, 80]. In only 10.4% of cases were adhesions mentioned as part of the informed consent process and in 14.4% adhesions were discussed but were not part of the consent process. In patients undergoing specific adhesiolysis surgery, 54% reported being given some kind of information about adhesions but only 46% were given information on adhesion-reduction agents. In procedures not involving adhesiolysis, only 10% of patients reported receiving any adhesion information and only 6% were given information on adhesion-reduction agents.

Tissue damage to underlying structures during laparoscopic surgery has been shown to be the most common cause of successful surgical negligence suits [81] and it is estimated that the risk of bowel injury is between 10% and 25% of laparoscopic adhesiolysis cases [82] and there is a 19% risk of inadvertent enterotomy during reoperative laparotomy [83]. Furthermore, in a study of misadventure data following laparoscopic surgery, while injury to the common bile duct was the most frequent problem, perforation of the small bowel or colon was the second most common injury and two-thirds of injuries were not noted until after the end of the surgical procedure [84]. Risk of damage was greater when there were difficulties visualising structures—which can be a common issue when operating on a patient with pre-existing adhesions.

With published evidence suggesting that the long-term risk of adhesion-related complications is high in the majority of gynaecological procedures, there is an urgent need for gynaecologists to be cognisant of the potential for medicolegal action [76, 77, 85] if patients are not informed routinely of the risk of adhesions.

Consensus on how to avoid adhesions

To reduce the risk of adhesions, surgeons should actively consider adopting anti-adhesion strategies as described in Table 1, particularly in “high-risk” gynaecological procedures (whether open or laparoscopic), such as ovarian, endometriosis or tubal surgery, myomectomy and adhesiolysis.

New developments in anti-adhesion products and our practical knowledge of using such agents has increased in recent years. Not all agents are difficult or costly to use and there is now promising evidence of efficacy, not only in the reduction of adhesions, but also in subsequent outcomes, such as reduction in SBO or improvement in pregnancy rates in infertile women.

At present, surgeons largely employ good surgical practice to prevent adhesion formation and adhesiolysis to treat adhesions—despite the high reformation rate [9]. Sound epidemiological studies have shown that, even with advances in surgical practice, adhesions continue to represent a significant burden for patients, surgeons and healthcare systems. Evidence is increasing to support the efficacy of adhesion-reduction agents to complement good surgical practice, including agents that are relatively inexpensive and simple to use (Table 2).

It is also time to advise our patients of the risks associated with adhesion-related complications during the consent process. Failure to inform patients adequately of the risks could, indeed, result in claims of medical negligence.

Further research on the use of adhesion-reduction agents is essential to better understand their impact on clinical outcomes, recognising that such studies are difficult to undertake [12]. Research also needs to continue into the use of more effective adhesion-preventative agents and combinations of strategies and agents. All surgeons should act now to reduce adhesions, thereby, fulfilling their duty of care to patients.

As the results of further studies on adhesions and adhesion-reduction agents become available, the consensus proposals below should be reviewed.

Table 3

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Acknowledgements

The consensus project and manuscript development was facilitated by Corvus Communications Limited under the direction of Rudy DeWilde and Geoffrey Trew. Special thanks go to the work of Alison Crowe, Alastair Knight and Jill Kirkdale in patiently supporting and encouraging all Adhesions Working Party members to actively contribute and feed back on all stages of the project development.

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Appendix

Appendix

Expert Adhesions Working Party of the ESGE

Members of the Expert Adhesions Working Party of the European Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESGE) are listed below alphabetically. All members actively contributed to the development and review of the consensus paper, recognising the importance of publishing on a matter of such importance. The majority participated at the Adhesions Consensus Expert Workshop convened during the 15th Annual Congress of the ESGE and the project was progressed in accordance with accepted processes for the development of consensus statements (see Consensus Process including Conflict of Interest in part 1 published in the previous issue of Gynecological Surgery [86])

Prof. Rudy Leon DeWilde, Pius Hospital, Oldenburg, Germany

Mr. Geoffrey Trew, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK

Dr. Stefano Angioni, H San Giovanni di Dio, Cagliari, Italy

Prof. Alain Audebert, Rue de Turenne, Bordeaux, France

Prof. Pedro Barri, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain

Prof. Charles Chapron, Clinique Universitaire Baudeloque, Paris, France

Prof. Maria Elisabetta Coccia, Ospedale di Careggi, Florence, Italy

Prof. Michel Degueldre, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire St-Pierre, Brussels, Belgium

Prof. Gere diZerega, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA

Prof. Enrique Garcia, Instituto Valenciano de Oncologia, Valencia, Spain

Dr. Robert J S Hawthorn, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland

Dr. Petra Janssen, Klinikum Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany

Prof. Philippe R Koninckx, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium

Prof. Matthias Korell, Klinikum Duisburg, Wedau Kliniken, Duisburg, Germany

Dr. Stefano Landi, Ospedale Sacro Cuore, Verona, Italy

Mr. Adrian M Lower, The London Clinic, London, UK

Prof. Per Lundorff, Kvindeafdelingen, Viborg Sygehus, Denmark

Dr. Enda McVeigh, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK

Prof. Patrick Madelenat, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France

Prof. Valerio Mais, H San Giovanni di Dio, Cagliari, Italy

Prof. Gian Benedetto Melis, H San Giovanni di Dio, Cagliari, Italy

Prof. Luca Minelli, Ospedale Sacro Cuore, Verona, Italy

Prof. Carmine Nappi, Università degli studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy

Prof. Michelle Nisolle, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium

Prof. George Pados, Interbalkan European Medical Center (Diavalkanino), Thessaloniki, Greece

Prof. George Pistofidis, AKESO, Gynaecology & Reproductive Centre, Athens, Greece

Dr. Massimillano Pellicano, Università degli studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy

Prof. Jean Luc Pouly, Polyclinique de l'Hôtel-Dieu, Clermont-Ferrand, France

Prof. Stefan Rimbach, Klinikum Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany

Prof. Ernst Schmidt, Diakonie-Krankenhaus GmbH (Frauenklinik), Bremen, Germany

Prof. Christopher Sutton, The Guildford Nuffield Hospital, Guildford, UK

Dr. Alicia Ubeda, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain

Prof. Diethelm Wallwiener, Universitäts-Frauenklinik Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

Prof. Arnaud Wattiez, IRCAD (Institut de Recherche contre les Cancers de l'Appareil Digestif), Hôpitaux Universitaires, Strasbourg, France

Prof. Errico Zupi, S. Giovanni calibita Fatebenefratelli Isola Tiberina, Rome, Italy

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DeWilde, R.L., Trew, G. & On behalf of the Expert Adhesions Working Party of the European Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESGE). Postoperative abdominal adhesions and their prevention in gynaecological surgery. Expert consensus position. Part 2—steps to reduce adhesions. Gynecol Surg 4, 243–253 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10397-007-0333-2

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