I read recently that adhesions can only be determined by using laparoscpic techniques, is this the case ?

Observation first: Any surgery could cause adhesions, most of the time pain gaseous distension will dissapper with time even may cause bowel obstruction, one way to find them is by laporoscopy , even removing them

Yes (sort of): Adhesions can only be seen by direct visualization, either via laparoscopic or open surgery. Stated another way, one cannot see adhesions by current radiologic diagnostic tests (ct, ultrasound, mri).