Surgery
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Twelve-year outcomes of laparoscopic adhesiolysis in patients with chronic abdominal pain: A randomized clinical trial.
Laparoscopic adhesiolysis as a therapy for chronic pain is still controversial, and long-term effects are not known; therefore, our aim was to evaluate long-term effects of laparoscopic adhesiolysis for the treatment of chronic abdominal pain believed to be related to intraperitoneal adhesions. ⋯ This is the first, long-term, placebo-controlled trial regarding the use of laparoscopic adhesiolysis for treating chronic abdominal pain. Laparoscopic adhesiolysis was less beneficial than laparoscopy alone in the long term. Secondly, there appeared to be a powerful, long-lasting placebo effect of laparoscopy. Because adhesiolysis is associated with an increased risk of operative complications, avoiding this treatment may result in less morbidity and health care costs.