Influence of Omentectomy on Peritoneal Defense Mechanisms in an Experimental Model of Intra-Abdominal Infection

Abstract

Removal of the omentum in the presence of intra-abdominal infections causes the peripherally derived macrophages to take over the defensive role of macrophages of peritoneal origin as a compensatory mechanism, thus the peritoneal bactericidal activity against E. COLI, the major pathogen in intra-abdominal infections, does not change after omentectomy.