title: New therapies in the treatment of postoperative ileus after gastrointestinal surgery.
abstract: Postoperative ileus after gastrointestinal surgery results from many factors, including the effects of surgical trauma, anesthetic agents, hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system, local inflammatory reactions, and the use of opioids in the postoperative period. Postoperative ileus can lead to potential complications and may prolong patients' hospitalization, thereby leading to an increase in healthcare costs. There have been recent efforts to improve the understanding of the pathogenesis of postoperative ileus and to develop new treatments to prevent or minimize its occurrence. Here, we present a review of the factors related to the development of postoperative ileus and new therapies directed at its prevention.
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Maron
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Fry
mesh_terms: D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D010880:Piperidines; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C032257:methylnaltrexone; D009271:Naltrexone; C419502:alvimopan