Gut bacteria aggravate adhesions after abdominal surgery

Abdominal adhesion after an operation with partially obstructed small intestine. Picture: J. Zindel, © Insel Gruppe - A multidisciplinary international research team led by Prof. Daniel Candinas and Prof. Deborah Stroka at Inselspital and the University of Bern has succeeded in providing important evidence: The researchers have been able to identify the initial cells and primary trigger leading to the formation of adhesions in the abdomen after operations contaminated by intestinal bacteria. This provides the first promising starting points for a possible therapy. Today, many abdominal surgeries are performed with minimally invasive techniques. Nevertheless, important, life-saving operations in the abdomen still involve major surgery. Following these surgeries, adhesions can form causing subsequent secondary problems. Previous work has been able to demonstrate that adhesions during sterile procedures are due to macrophages reacting to the opening of the abdomen.