Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches for Peritoneal Adhesions: A Comprehensive Review

Peritoneal adhesions are responsible for several and sometimes severe clinical phenotypes remaining a major problem for many patients today. Adhesions are formed within the peritoneal cavity as a result of surgery, inflammation, or injury and can cause a range of clinical symptoms, including abdominal pain, small bowel obstruction, infertility, and other complications. The incidence of peritoneal adhesions remains high as it is estimated that more than 50% of patients who undergo abdominal surgery will develop adhesions. Although advancements in surgical techniques and perioperative management have been developed, the risk of adhesion formation cannot be eliminated, and thus, the development of effective prevention strategies and treatments remains a priority in the field of surgery. In this review, we summarize the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the peritoneal adhesions, but also the experimental therapy approaches that have been investigated toward a solution to their possible clinical phenotypes.