Feb 5, 2021 Simple, inexpensive, and well-tolerated statins may protect against post-op adhesion-related complications Statin use at the time of intra-abdominal surgery may reduce the risk of postoperative adhesion-related complications (ARCs) — including small-bowel obstructions (SBO), the need for adhesiolysis, and even infertility secondary to adhesions — according to results from a recent study published in “More than 90% of patients develop adhesions after intra-abdominal surgery. Adhesion-related complications (ARCs) occur in up to 5% of patients undergoing these operations and are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. More than 70% of small-bowel obstructions (SBOs) and 40% of cases of infertility are secondary to adhesions. Future operations in patients with adhesions are associated with inadvertent enterotomy rates of 10% to 20%, resulting in an estimated mortality of 13%,” according to lead author Frank I. Scott, MD, MSCE, of the University of Colorado, Denver, and fellow researchers.