Objective To understand etiology and available treatment of postoperative peritoneal adhesion. Method Domestic and overseas literatures in recent years about research progress of peritoneal adhesion were reviewed. Results As to the previous research, the operation was the main cause of peritoneal adhesion by the injury, inflammatory reaction, and hypoxia, which further affected the changes of the peritoneal microenvironment through the release of inflammatory cells, inflammatory mediators, cytokines, etc., then disturbed the balance of deposition and dissolution of fibrin and promoted the formation of extracellular matrix and microangiogenesis, resulted in peritoneal adhesion. The main treatment measures were optimizing surgical procedure and improving surgical technique, preventing fibrinolysis and promoting fiber protein degradation, some drug therapies involved molecules and genes, using biologic barrier treatment with drug barrier and mechanical barrier, and some other adjuvant therapies. Conclusions Pathogenesis of peritoneal adhesion is complex and poorly understood currently. There is no effective clinical treatment and intervention for this disease. Research on aspects of cell and molecular of abdominal cavity microenvironment will be beneficial to precise treatment of peritoneal adhesion, and combined medication of multiple targets and multiple links and related interventions are expected to apply for peritoneal adhesion in future.