Surgery
in their care decisions. Access to medical information online, greater emphasis on informed consent and evolving expectations around transparency have fundamentally changed the patient-provider relationship. Yet adhesion prevention often remains absent from routine patient education. There are understandable reasons for this.
Pre-operative discussions are wide-ranging. Surgeons must cover procedural details, immediate risks, recovery expectations and alternatives to surgery, often within a limited amount of time. In this context, longer-term risks such as adhesions can be overshadowed. There may also be a somewhat oversimplified perception that adhesion formation is an inherent and inevitable aspect of surgery. When a complication is seen as unavoidable,
the perceived value of discussing it in detail may diminish. In busy surgical pathways, particularly within the NHS, this can result in adhesions being mentioned briefly or omitted altogether during consent. Surgical success is often measured in
terms of operative outcomes and short-term recovery. Complications that arise years later fall outside traditional metrics and may feel less tangible during pre-operative planning. However, expectations around informed consent and shared decision-making are evolving. Patients increasingly expect transparency about not only immediate risks, but also potential long-term consequences that may affect quality of life. Improving adhesion education is not about
creating fear or overwhelming patients with additional risks. Rather, it’s about helping patients better understand the full picture of their surgical journey and fostering more informed, collaborative decision-making.
Why adhesion reduction conversations matter Patient education is most effective when it helps individuals feel informed, prepared and engaged in their care. Adhesion reduction discussions support all three goals.
First, these conversations reinforce
transparency. Patients generally appreciate understanding both the benefits and risks associated with surgery, particularly risks that many have long-term implications. Providing education around adhesions demonstrates a commitment to open communication and partnership. Second, awareness can empower patients
to recognise symptoms earlier if complications arise later. While not every patient will experience adhesion-related problems, understanding the potential connection between prior surgery and future symptoms may support earlier evaluation and treatment. Third, education helps contextualise reduction efforts. Surgeons and healthcare teams often employ multiple strategies designed to minimise adhesion formation, but patients may not realise these considerations are part of surgical planning. Explaining reduction approaches can help patients better appreciate the complexity and thoughtfulness involved in modern surgical care.
Importantly, adhesion reduction conversations align with broader healthcare trends focused
on outcomes, quality improvement and patient experience. As hospitals and health systems continue emphasising value-based care, reducing preventable complications and avoidable readmissions remains a key priority.
The economic impact of adhesions Beyond patient experience, adhesions also create a measurable burden on healthcare systems. Adhesion-related complications can lead to repeat hospitalisations, emergency department visits and additional surgeries. In some cases, re-operations become more technically difficult because adhesions obscure anatomy or increase the risk of accidental injury during surgery.7 Adhesion-related complications contribute to
repeat consultations, diagnostic investigations and unplanned admissions, placing additional strain on already stretched surgical services. It’s estimated to cost the National Health Service (NHS) in England around £67 million each year.8
Yet despite their prevalence and impact, adhesions continue to sit at the margins of surgical conversations. For healthcare systems already navigating
resource constraints, workforce shortages and increasing demand, reducing avoidable complications is increasingly important. While adhesions cannot be eliminated entirely, consistent reduction efforts and improved awareness may help reduce some downstream impacts.
Closing the education gap through better communication Improving adhesion education does not require dramatically longer surgical consultations. Often, small communication changes can make a meaningful difference. One important step
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www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I July 2026
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