Mission and Vision
Mission
Surgery without adhesion-related complications
Surgery without adhesion-related complications is the mission of the Dutch Adhesion Group. Even in the 21st century, adhesions remain the most common cause of long-term complications after abdominal surgery. Furthermore, more than half of the population in developed countries undergoes abdominal surgery during their lifetime. As a result, adhesions cause an unprecedented disease burden and even mortality. Driven by our values, we have conducted research in recent years to improve the diagnosis and treatment of adhesions. This research continues unabated in our research groups. However, the focus for the Dutch Adhesion Group in the coming years will be to promote awareness and to offer a platform for implementation of the acquired knowledge about adhesions.
Vision
Public Awareness
Despite the high disease burden, there is still little awareness of the subject of adhesions. A key point for the coming years is therefore to increase the general awareness of adhesions. Increasing awareness of adhesions increases understanding for patients with complaints of adhesions, and social recognition. This recognition is important for increasing support for research into adhesions. As a first step in increasing awareness of adhesions, we want to interview patients to talk about their experiences. Furthermore, the dialogue about adhesions will be stimulated through an update of the website and the use of social media.
Implementation
Recent research from our research groups has yielded new leads for improving the diagnosis and treatment of adhesions. However, implementation of this is still relatively small-scale. The Dutch Adhesion Group will function as a knowledge platform for implementation, in which information and experiences are shared for setting up programs for diagnosis (cineMRI), the use of adhesion barriers, and decision-making around complex cases.
Professional Awareness
The awareness of adhesions among medical specialists also needs to be increased. Efforts from the Dutch Adhesion Group in the past have only contributed to this to a limited extent. The focus for the coming years will therefore be to increase knowledge on this subject by means of new instruments such as quality parameters, guidelines and education. These instruments will be elaborated in the following items.
Quality and Guidelines
Quality parameters and guidelines are an important instrument to increase awareness of adhesions among professionals and to increase the quality of care for patients with adhesions. The Dutch Adhesion Group has previously contributed to an international guideline on adhesions. Through contacts with professional groups and scientific associations, we aim to develop national guidelines, starting with a guideline for stricture ileus. We also stimulate research into topics that can sharpen this guideline.
Education and Training
In recent years, the subject of adhesions has been included in the course curriculum for AIOS surgery, in CASH 1.4 acute abdomen (severe ileus) and recently also in CASH 2.4 GE education (chronic pain). In the coming years, we will further expand education on adhesions, with the aim of also having this subject addressed in important courses, and in podcasts for professionals.
Strategic Partnerships
The Dutch Adhesion Group attaches great value to building and maintaining strategic partnerships. These partners include all stakeholders, such as patient associations, scientific associations, and also companies that develop means for the prevention of adhesions. As a platform for innovation and implementation, the Dutch Adhesion Group wants to be a clearly recognizable partner for high-quality research, both clinical and fundamental and animal experiments.