# Adhesions --- **Adhesions** are bands of [[scar tissue]] that form between organs usually as a result of a surgery, but can also be caused by infection or trauma. They develop surprisingly common after abdominal surgeries—50% to 90% of patients develop them. Most people experience few or no symptoms, but for others they can cause severe, ongoing pain and stop organs from functioning well. In the [[intestines]] they can cause blockages which can lead to severe [[pain]] and [[emesis|vomiting]], as well as cause permanent damage or death. There is no way to prevent adnesions from forming after a surgery, though there is ongoing research to find a way. **Lysis of adhesions** is a [[surgery]] that is performed laproscopically to cut and remove the adhesions. It's ironic that a complication of surgery's only treatment is more surgery—which itself poses a risk for developing adhesions. ___