title: Intra-abdominal healing: gastrointestinal tract and adhesions.
abstract: The abdominal cavity represents one of the most active areas of surgical activity. Surgical procedures involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are among the most common procedures performed today. Healing of the GI tract after removal of a segment of bowel and healing of the peritoneal surfaces with subsequent adhesion formation remain vexing clinical problems. Interventions to modify both the responses are myriad, yet a full understanding of the pathophysiology of these responses remains elusive. Different aspects of GI and peritoneal healing, with associated factors, are discussed in this article.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, and the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Munireddy
authors.forename: Sandra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kavalukas
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbul
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D034841:Abdominal Cavity / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*