[Prevention and therapy of intra-abdominal adhesions. A survey of 1,200 clinics in Germany].

A survey of 1200 hospitals in Germany was undertaken to estimate the current standards of prevention and treatment of postoperative peritoneal adhesions. The 751 (62.2%) evaluated questionnaires showed a representative distribution according to postal zones and annual laparotomies. The rate of coeliotomies for adhesional bowel obstruction is 2.6%. Starch-powdered gloves are used in 54.2% and washed before operating in 69.3%. Dry swabs and towels are used in 60.7 and 22.5%, respectively. Most of the surgeons suture the peritoneum. Adhesions are divided in patients with respective symptoms but without intestinal obstruction by 32.6% and during laparotomies for non-adhesion-related diseases by 20.4%. Long intestinal tubes and plication procedures are applied by 43.9 and 33.7%, respectively. Medication is administered for routine prophylaxis of adhesion by 6%, for prevention of recurrencies by 17.2%. Although it has been revealed that adjuvant measures for prevention of adhesions are needed, as of today, no regimen has proofed its efficacy and gotten accepted for clinical usage.