title: Intra-abdominal adhesions: cellular mechanisms and strategies for prevention.
abstract: Postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions represent a serious clinical problem. In this review, we have focused on recent progress in the cellular and humoral mechanisms underpinning adhesion formation, and have reviewed strategies that interfere with these pathways as a means to prevent their occurrence. Current and previous English-language literature on the pathogenesis of adhesion formation was identified. As the burden of surgical disease in the world population increases, and the frequency of reoperation increases, prevention of adhesion formation has become a pressing goal in surgical research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Alberta Hospitals, 2000 College Plaza, 8215 112th Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2C8.
authors.forename: Allison H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Maciver
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCall
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: James Shapiro
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*