Understanding Bowel Adhesions and Their Treatment

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Bowel adhesions occur when scar tissue causes parts of the intestine to stick to surrounding tissue or organs.

“Adhesions are one of the conditions that can occur after surgery in the abdominal area,” said Dr Eko Priatno, a digestive surgeon at Bethsaida Hospital Gading Serpong, in a statement on Tuesday.

The condition can also develop after a patient has had inflammation or infection in the abdominal cavity.

“Not all patients experience problems, so treatment needs to be tailored to each individual’s condition,” Dr Eko said.

In some patients, adhesions can cause recurring abdominal pain, bloating and impaired bowel movement. In such cases, an examination is needed to identify the cause of the symptoms and determine the appropriate treatment.

A digestive surgeon can treat bowel disorders and release the adhesions if necessary. A reconstructive urologist can assess whether the urinary tract is involved and carry out repair or reconstruction if medically indicated.

Dr Donny Eka Putra, a consultant in trauma and urogenital reconstruction at Bethsaida Hospital Gading Serpong, said that treating complex adhesion cases requires consideration of the condition of all organs involved.

“In complex cases of adhesions, treatment cannot focus on just one organ,” he said.

“We need to understand the relationships between the organs involved so that treatment can be planned comprehensively, including preserving urinary tract function and performing reconstruction if necessary,” he added.

The decision to operate is made after considering the patient’s condition, the benefits of the procedure and the potential risks.

Bethsaida Hospital Gading Serpong director Dr Margareth Aryani Santoso said a multidisciplinary approach is used to determine treatment suited to each patient’s needs.

“Healthcare is not only about treating a disease, but also about understanding the patient’s overall condition,” she said.