Post-operative Ileus and Gut Microbiota

Postoperative ileus (POI) is a common clinical condition after abdominal surgical procedure, leading to increased patient morbidity and prolonged hospitalisation.The mechanism of POI is not very clear until now. At the end of the 20th century, the inflammatory-mediated ileus hypothesis was introduced. But the initial trigger of the inflammatory cascade is unclear.Previous study demonstrate a clear association between colonic transit time, gut microbiota composition and urinary metabolic phenotype. Here the investigators suggest that the perioperative gut microbiota may contribute to POI.