Table 4 Absolute and relative contraindications to laparoscopic adhesiolysis.

• Abdominal film showing a remarkable dilatation (> 4 cm) of small bowel [3, 10, 11, 24, 28, 49, 58]

• Number of previous laparotomies > 2 [3, 11, 18, 27, 46]

• Signs of peritonitis on physical examination [3, 18, 58]

• Multiple adherences [3, 18]

• Severe comorbidities: cardiovascular, respiratory and hemostatic disease [3, 18, 58]

• Hemodynamic instability [58]