Abstract
Intraperitoneal adhesions are frequently encountered and present significant challenges to the practicing surgeon, including increased operating time, bowel obstruction, pelvic pain, and infertility. Until recently, however, our knowledge of the biology of adhesion formation within the peritoneal cavity has been limited, which in turn limits prevention and treatment strategies for surgical patients. Extensive research has now led to an increased understanding of adhesion formation, with hypoxia playing a central role. Hypoxia stimulates a cascade that leads to oxidative stress, anaerobic metabolism, formation of free radicals, and ultimately the adhesion phenotype. By understanding the precipitants to adhesion development, we may begin to develop prevention and treatment therapies that will provide clinically significant improvement over the currently available approaches to limit postoperative adhesions.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 336-343 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Seminars in Pediatric Surgery |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2015 |
Keywords
- Adhesion phenotype
- Adhesions
- Hypoxia
- Oxidative stress
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Surgery