Patients’ awareness of postoperative adhesions: results from a multi-centre study and online survey

Purpose To analyse and to compare how female patients are informed about adhesions and their related problems by surgeons preoperatively. Methods Over 8 weeks 105 patients (Germany) and 82 (UK) patients admitted for laparoscopic or open abdominopelvic surgery were interviewed preoperatively in a multi-centre study in Germany and the UK. 212 responses to an online survey were also analysed. Results Less than 50% of patients are made aware of adhesions. Even fewer patients were told about complications caused by adhesions. Lack of knowledge is cited by 46% of patients as a reason for health professionals not informing them about adhesions. 41% considered adhesions as not sufficiently important. Patients who had previously heard of adhesions were most commonly informed by physicians. Conclusions There is lack of information among patients and physicians about adhesions and their complications. Written information before surgery and computer-based applications may help raise patient’s awareness.