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Dense adhesions between the uterus and anterior abdominal wall: a unique complication of Cesarean delivery

In the past decade, the rates of Cesarean delivery have continued to rise, reaching 30.3% in 2005—the highest level reported in the US. This level marks a 46% increase from 1996, when the Cesarean delivery rate was 20.7% [1]. Similar to other abdominal operations, Cesarean delivery is associated with intra-abdominal adhesions. However, in contrast to other abdominal operations, the impact of post-Cesarean adhesions and prevention of their formation have not been widely studied. These adhesions can cause a difficulty entering the abdominal cavity at subsequent surgery leading to longer time to deliver the baby at repeat Cesarean, and increased risk of bowel and bladder injury [2–6]. Other possible effects of intra-abdominal adhesions include abdominal pain and bowel obstruction [7].

In attempts to decrease adhesion formation, several authors have evaluated different surgical techniques. For example, Blumenfeld et al. [8] reported that single layer closure of the hysterotomy incision was associated with more bladder adhesions at the time of repeat Cesarean than double layer closure. There is also evidence that that non-closure of the peritoneum after Cesarean section is associated with more adhesion formation compared to closure [9]. Unfortunately, there are very few studies that have looked at adhesions after Cesarean delivery in the literature. Most studies evaluating post-surgical adhesion formation rely on second-look laparoscopy. However, the inconvenience of a second-look procedure especially in postpartum women contributes to the paucity of information on post-Cesarean adhesions.

Our case is a 65-year-old woman who underwent laparoscopic total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. She experienced chronic lower abdominal pain since her Cesarean delivery 33 years before the present surgery. At laparoscopy, the uterus was found to be in traction and adhered to the anterior abdominal wall (Fig. 1). Her abdominal pain disappeared following surgery. Whether the use of adhesion preventing substance would have prevented her chronic abdominal pain is unknown. In any event, one should start evaluating ways to reduce post-Cesarean adhesions.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Laparoscopic photograph of dense adhesions between the uterus and the anterior abdominal wall

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Conflict of interest

Prof. Togas Tulanda received a research grant from Ethicon Inc.

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Levin, D., Tulandi, T. Dense adhesions between the uterus and anterior abdominal wall: a unique complication of Cesarean delivery. Gynecol Surg 8, 415–416 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10397-010-0633-9

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