title: Postoperative Ileus: Pathophysiology, Current Therapeutic Approaches.
abstract: Postoperative ileus, which develops after each abdominal surgical procedure, is an iatrogenic disorder characterized by a transient inhibition of gastrointestinal motility. Its pathophysiology is complex involving pharmacological (opioids, anesthetics), neural, and immune-mediated mechanisms. The early neural phase, triggered by activation of afferent nerves during the surgical procedure, is short lasting compared to the later inflammatory phase. The latter starts after 3-6 h and lasts several days, making it a more interesting target for treatment. Insight into the triggers and immune cells involved is of great importance for the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this chapter, the pathogenesis and the current therapeutic approaches to treat postoperative ileus are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stakenborg
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gomez-Pinilla
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium. guy.boeckxstaens@med.kuleuven.be.|Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium. guy.boeckxstaens@med.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Boeckxstaens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery; D045823:Ileus / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents
keywords: Field effect; Gastrointestinal motility; Inflammatory phase; Macrophages; Mast cells; Neural phase; Pathophysiology; Postoperative ileus