INITIAL EXPERIENCE WITH LAPAROSCOPIC ADHESIOLYSIS IN CHILDREN

Intra-abdominal adhesions are a well-known complication of laparotomy. We report our initial experience of ten children undergoing laparosco py for the diagnosis and treatment of intra-abdominal adhesions. Signi ficant adhesions were found in seven patients and successfully treated laparoscopically. Two patients required a second procedure, the first for recurrent adhesions 6 months following laparoscopic adhesiolysis, and the second because of an initial unsuccessful attempt. Even very extensive adhesions can be treated effectively and safety with very lo w morbidity. There were no conversions to open laparotomy. It has been our observation that pain localised to a healed laparotomy incision m ay be caused by adhesions to the undersurface of the scar, and lysis o f these adhesions resulted in resolution of the pain in our patients.