Oral Nutritional Supplements and Enteral Nutrition in Patients with Gastrointestinal Surgery.

Nowadays, patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery are following perioperative treatment in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols. Although oral feeding is supposed not to be stopped perioperatively with respect to ERAS, malnourished patients and inadequate calorie intake are common. Malnutrition, even in overweight or obese patients, is often underestimated. Patients at metabolic risk have to be identified early to confirm the indication for nutritional therapy. The monitoring of nutritional status postoperatively has to be considered in the hospital and after discharge, especially after surgery in the upper gastrointestinal tract, as normal oral food intake is decreased for several months. The article gives an overview of the current concepts of perioperative enteral nutrition in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.

Effect of herbal medicine daikenchuto on gastrointestinal symptoms following laparoscopic colectomy in patients with colon cancer: A prospective randomized study.

We conducted a prospective randomized study to investigate the effect of daikenchuto (DKT) on abdominal symptoms following laparoscopic colectomy in patients with left-sided colon cancer. Patients who suffered from abdominal pain or distention on postoperative day 1 were randomized to either the DKT group or non-DKT group. The primary endpoints were the evaluation of abdominal pain, abdominal distention, and quality of life. The metabolome and gut microbiome analyses were conducted as secondary endpoints. A total of 17 patients were enrolled: 8 patients in the DKT group and 9 patients in the non-DKT group. There were no significant differences in the primary endpoints and postoperative adverse events between the two groups. The metabolome and gut microbiome analyses showed that the levels of plasma lipid mediators associated with the arachidonic acid cascade were lower in the DKT group than in the non-DKT group, and that the relative abundance of genera Serratia and Bilophila were lower in the DKT group than in the non-DKT group. DKT administration did not improve the abdominal symptoms following laparoscopic colectomy. The effects of DKT on metabolites and gut microbiome have to be further investigated.

Effect of Yikou-Sizi powder hot compress on gastrointestinal functional recovery in patients after abdominal surgery: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction (PGD) is a common complication of patients who have undergone surgery. The clinical manifestations cause great discomfort to postoperative patients and can severely affect postoperative recovery. However, although various pharmacologic agents have been explored for several years, success has been limited. Because some commonly used drugs have caused adverse reactions and because abdominal surgery patients generally cannot consume food or medication during the perioperative period, we were prompted to try an external Chinese medicine treatment method. Yikou-Sizi powder hot compress is an efficient therapy in our hospital, but there is a lack of rigorous studies to certify the safety and effectiveness of its external use to improve gastrointestinal motility. This study aimed to introduce the clinical trial design and test the ability of Yikou-Sizi powder hot compress treatment to accelerate gastrointestinal functional recovery after abdominal surgery. METHODS: This study is a randomized controlled clinical trial. The participants will undergo laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery and laparoscopic total hysterectomy. The primary outcome measure will be the gastrointestinal functional evaluation index, including the time to first passage of flatus, first defecation, first normal bowel sounds, and first consumption of liquid/semigeneral diet foods. According to good clinical practice (GCP), we will evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Yikou-Sizi powder hot compress and objectively study the acting mechanism of ghrelin. This pilot trial will be a standard, scientific, and clinical study designed to evaluate the effect of Yikou-Sizi powder hot compress for the recovery of gastrointestinal function after surgery and determine its overall safety. DISCUSSION: This is the first study to describe the use of Yikou-Sizi powder hot compress to accelerate the recovery of gastrointestinal function after abdominal surgery. The study is designed as a randomized, controlled, clinical, large sample size and pilot trial. Evaluation will consist of combining the primary outcome measures with secondary outcome measures to ensure the objectivity and scientific validity of the study. Due to the observational design and the limited follow-up period, it is not possible to evaluate to what extent the connection between the observed improvement and the interventions represents a causal relationship. Efficient comparison between groups will be analyzed by chi-square test.

[Comparison of Effects of Exhalation and Inhalation Breathing Exercises on Pulmonary Function and Complications in Elderly Patients with Upper-abdominal Surgery].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of exhalation breathing exercises using expirometer and that of inhalation breathing exercises using incentive spirometry on pulmonary function and complications in elderly patients with upper-abdominal surgery. METHODS: The research design was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. Participants were 63 patients who underwent upper-abdominal surgery under general anesthesia (32 in experiment group, 31 in control group). They were recruited at P university hospital from August 1 to November 30, 2015. Effects were evaluated by measuring pulmonary functions (Forced Vital Capacity [FVC], Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second [FEV1]) and pulmonary complications. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. RESULTS: There was no difference in FVC between the experimental group and the control group, but FEV1 in the experimental group increased significantly compared to the control group by time change (p=.001). Also, there were no pulmonary complications in the experimental group but there were 5 cases (16.1%)(p=.018) in the control group. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that exhalation breathing exercises by elderly patients following upper-abdominal surgery is an effective nursing intervention in enhancing pulmonary function and preventing pulmonary complications.

Resultados clínicos y funcionales de la cecoproctoplastia con rotación anti horaria - Experiencia preliminar / Clinical and functional results of the ceco proctoplasty with anti clockwise rotation - Preliminary experience

Introducción: la colectomía subtotal con anastomosis cecorrectal o cecoproctoplastia, es una alternativa a la colectomía total con anastomosis ileorrectal; permite conservar el íleon distal, válvula ileocecal y el ciego preservando las importantes funciones de absorción. El objetivo del trabajo es observar los resultados clínicos y funcionales post operatorios de la cecoproctoplastia. Materiales y Métodos: los pacientes seleccionados con promedio de 57 años de edad, fueron 3 (tres) casos de diverticulosis colónica complicada, 2 (dos) casos con hemorragia y 1 (uno) con diverticulitis, 1 (uno) caso de angiodisplasias múltiples y 1 (uno) caso de cáncer de colon sigmoides, adenocarcinoma bien diferenciado T2 N0 M0, todos fueron sometidos a colonoscopia y en cuatro de ellos se efectuó enema opaco y todos presentaban válvula ileocecal continente. La técnica, sigue la propuesta de Zinzidohoue. Resultados: no se registraron mortalidad ni complicaciones mayores. Los resultados funcionales en relación a la cantidad y característica de las deposiciones diarias al año del postoperatorio, todos los pacientes presentaron 2 a 3 deposiciones diarias. Discusión: en 1998, Zinzidohoue propuso una modificación a la técnica de Deloyers en la colectomía subtotal con conservación de la unión ileocecal, que preserva la continuidad anastomosando el ciego al muñón rectal. Esta técnica, representa actualmente una alternativa a la colectomía total con anastomosis ileorrectal considerado a menudo como insatisfactorio debido a la alta frecuencia de diarrea y alto índice obstrucción del intestino delgado. Conclusión: nuestra experiencia preliminar, nos permite afirmar que la cecoproctoplastia es una técnica aconsejable en seleccionados casos, representa una alternativa a la ileoproctoanastomosis por sus resultados clínicos y funcionales satisfactorio.

Background: subtotal colectomy with cecorrectal anastomosis or cecoproctoplasty is an alternative to total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis. It allows keeping the distal ileon, the ileocaecal valve and the cecum, preserving important absorption functions. This work is aimed to evaluate the postoperative clinical and functional outcomes from cecoproctoplasty technique. Materials and methods: five patients with a mean age of 57 years old were selected. Three of them were suffering from complicated colonic diverticulitis, 2 with hemorrhage and 1 with diverticulitis; 1 case of multiple angiodysplasia and 1 with sigmoid colon cancer, well-differentiated adenocarcinoma T2N0M0. All of them undergone colonoscopy, in 4 of them were performed x ray with barium enema. All patients presented good continence of the ileocaecal valve. The technique is based on the proposal of Zinzidohoue. Results: there was no mortality and no postoperative complication. Functional outcomes regarding the number and characteristics of mean daily stool frequency over a year was 2-3. Discussion: by 1998, Zinzidohoue proposed a Deloyers’ technique modification in subtotal colectomy with ileocaecal junction conservation, which keeps the continuity, joining the cecum to the rectal stump. This technique represents an alternative to total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis. It is often considered as unsatisfactory because of the high rate of diarrhea and small intestine obstruction. Conclusion: our preliminary experience allows us to state that cecoproctoplasty is a recommended technique in selected cases. It represents an alternative to ileorectal anastomosis because of its satisfactory clinical and functional results.

[Nutritional support therapy in patients with liver dysfunction undergoing gastrointestinal surgery].

Liver dysfunction by various reasons can cause metabolic disorders of a variety of nutrients and malnutrition, while malnutrition affects the recovery of liver function. Clinically patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery are often accompanied with malnutrition, and these patients with liver dysfunction are easy to develop nutrient metabolic disorders. Therefore, improving the nutritional status of patients with liver dysfunction can improve the success rate of surgery and postoperative recovery. This article reviews the nutritional support in patients with liver dysfunction undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.

Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on incidence of postoperative ileus and hospital length of stay in general surgical patients.

CONTEXT: Postoperative ileus is a known complication after abdominal operations, and the clinical efficacy of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in postoperative surgical patients has seldom been the subject of research. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is a relationship between postoperative use of OMT and postoperative outcomes in gastrointestinal surgical patients, including time to flatus, clear liquid diet, and bowel movement and postoperative hospital length of stay (LOS). DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A 350-bed urban community hospital with an osteopathic residency program in general surgery. PATIENTS: Fifty-five patients who underwent a major gastrointestinal operation, who did not die, and who had complete perioperative medical records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We evaluated demographic data; American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class; preoperative comorbid conditions; postoperative complications; postoperative time to flatus, clear liquid diet, and bowel movement; postoperative hospital LOS; electrolyte abnormalities; and types of narcotics used. RESULTS: Of the 55 patients who met the study criteria, 17 had received postoperative OMT and 38 had not. The mean age was 60.3 years in the OMT group and 62.1 years in the non-OMT group (P=.70). The 2 groups were similar in terms of American Society of Anesthesiologists class, number of comorbid conditions and of postoperative complications, presence of electrolyte abnormalities, and narcotic use. The time to bowel movement and to clear liquid diet did not differ significantly between the groups. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) time to flatus was 4.7 (0.4) days in the non-OMT group and 3.1 (0.6) days in the OMT group (P=.035). The mean (SD) postoperative hospital LOS was also reduced significantly with OMT, from 11.5 (1.0) days in the non-OMT group to 6.1 (1.7) days in the OMT group (P=.006). CONCLUSION: Osteopathic manipulative treatment applied after a major gastrointestinal operation is associated with decreased time to flatus and decreased postoperative hospital LOS.

Enteral nutrition is associated with improved outcome in patients with severe sepsis. A secondary analysis of the VISEP trial.

INTRODUCTION: The optimal nutritional strategy remains controversial, particularly in severely septic patients. Our aim was to analyze the effect of three nutritional strategies--enteral (EN), parenteral (PN), and combined nutrition (EN+PN)--on the outcome of patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This secondary analysis of the prospective, randomized-controlled, multicenter "Intensive Insulin Therapy and Pentastarch Resuscitation in Severe Sepsis (VISEP)" trial only included patients with a length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) of more than 7 days. Besides patient characteristics, data on nutrition therapy were collected daily for up to 21 days. Morbidity as measured by the mean Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, incidence of secondary infections, renal replacement therapy, ventilator-free days and severe hypoglycemia, length of ICU stay, and mortality at 90 days were compared between the three nutritional strategies. RESULTS: In all, 353 patients were included in the analysis with the majority (68.5 %) receiving EN+PN, 24.4 % receiving EN, and only 7.1 % receiving PN. Median caloric intake was 918 kcal/day (EN), 1,210 kcal/day (PN), and 1,343 kcal/day (EN+PN; p < 0.001). In the latter group, calories were predominantly administered via the parenteral route within the first week. The rate of death at 90 days was lower with EN than with EN+PN (26.7 % vs. 41.3 %, p = 0.048), as was the rate of secondary infections, renal replacement therapy, and duration of mechanical ventilation. In the adjusted Cox regression analysis, the effect on mortality [hazard ratio (HR)= 1.86, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.16-2.98, p = 0.010] and the rate of secondary infections (HR= 1.89, 95 % CI: 1.27-2.81, p = 0.002) remained different between EN and EN+PN. CONCLUSION: In patients with severe sepsis or septic shock and prolonged ICU stay, EN alone was associated with improved clinical outcome compared to EN+PN. This hypothesis-generating result has to be confirmed by a randomized-controlled trial in this specific patient population.

Little consensus in either definition or diagnosis of a lower gastro-intestinal anastomotic leak amongst colorectal surgeons.

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to assess the working definition of a colorectal anastomotic leak among colorectal surgeons and to survey the current approach to investigation and management of a patient with a suspected anastomotic leak. METHODS: Online survey consisting of nine questions regarding the definition, assessment and investigation of anastomotic leaks was conducted. Of the 738 eligible ACP members contacted, 210 responded (28.4%). RESULTS: Results demonstrated that 94.2% of surgeons agreed 'extravasation of contrast on enema' and 91.8% agreed 'faecal material seen in drains/from the wound' constituted a clinical leak. Only 69.2% agreed that a leak was 'intra-abdominal sepsis requiring a laparotomy', and about half agreed that radiological collections constituted a leak when either treated with antibiotics (46.6%) or with percutaneous drainage (51.4%). Serial clinical examination was the perceived most sensitive clinical feature for a leak, with 75% of surgeons ranking this in their top three choices. Surgeons radiologically confirm a leak on average in 80.2% of cases. A CT with rectal contrast for a left-sided leak was selected by 42.9% of respondents. For a right-sided/small bowel anastomosis, 44.5% selected a CT with oral contrast and 43.4% a CT with IV contrast. CONCLUSIONS: There is still significant heterogeneity between surgeons in what they define as an anastomotic leak. Most surgeons valued clinical examination as the most sensitive initial tool for leak detection; however, radiology has a major role in the confirmation of clinical leaks in colorectal patients. There is an increasing need to be able to classify and grade anastomotic leaks, both to improve the care of patients and for audit purposes.

Randomized clinical trial of glutamine-supplemented versus standard parenteral nutrition in infants with surgical gastrointestinal disease.

BACKGROUND: Addition of glutamine to parenteral nutrition in surgical infants remains controversial. The aim of this trial was to determine whether glutamine supplementation of parenteral nutrition in infants requiring surgery would reduce the time to full enteral feeding and/or decrease the incidence of sepsis and septicaemia. METHODS: A prospective double-blind multicentre randomized clinical trial was performed in surgical infants less than 3 months old who required parenteral nutrition. Patients were allocated to treatment or control groups by means of minimization. Infants received either 0·6 g per kg per day alanyl-glutamine (treatment group) or isonitrogenous isocaloric parenteral nutrition (control group) until full enteral feeding was achieved. Primary outcomes were time to full enteral feeding and incidence of sepsis. Cox regression analysis was used to compare time to full enteral feeding, and to calculate risk of sepsis/septicaemia. RESULTS: A total of 174 patients were randomized, of whom 164 completed the trial and were analysed (82 in each group). There was no difference in time to full enteral feeding or time to first enteral feeding between groups, and supplementation with glutamine had no effect on the overall incidence of sepsis or septicaemia. However, during total parenteral nutrition (before the first enteral feed), glutamine administration was associated with a significantly decreased risk of developing sepsis (hazard ratio 0·33, 95 per cent confidence interval 0·15 to 0·72; P = 0·005). CONCLUSION: Glutamine supplementation during parenteral nutrition did not reduce the incidence of sepsis in surgical infants with gastrointestinal disease. REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN83168963 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).

α-Tocopherol succinate- and AMD3100-mobilized progenitors mitigate radiation-induced gastrointestinal injury in mice.

The goal of this study was to elucidate the role of α-tocopherol succinate (TS)- and AMD3100-mobilized progenitors in mitigating the ionizing-radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome in mice. We demonstrate the efficacy of a bridging therapy that will allow the lymphohematopoietic system of severely immunocompromised victims exposed to ionizing radiation to recover from high doses of radiation. CD2F1 mice were irradiated with a high dose of radiation causing gastrointestinal syndrome (11 Gy, cobalt-60 γ-radiation) and then transfused intravenously (retro-orbital sinus) with whole blood or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from TS- and AMD3100-injected mice 2, 24, or 48 hours post irradiation and monitored for 30-day survival. Jejunum sections were analyzed for tissue area, surviving crypts, villi, mitotic figures, and basal lamina enterocytes. Our results demonstrate that infusion of whole blood or PBMC from TS- and AMD3100-injected mice significantly improved survival of mice receiving a high dose of radiation. Histopathology and immunostaining of jejunum from irradiated and TS- and AMD3100-mobilized PBMC-transfused mice reveal significant protection of gastrointestinal tissue from radiation injury. We demonstrate that TS and AMD3100 mobilize progenitors into peripheral circulation and that the infusion of mobilized progenitor-containing blood or PBMC acts as a bridging therapy for immune-system recovery in mice exposed to high, potentially fatal, doses of ionizing radiation.

Superiority of a fish oil-enriched emulsion to medium-chain triacylglycerols/long-chain triacylglycerols in gastrointestinal surgery patients: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Compared with soybean oil, a fish oil-enriched emulsion can improve the clinical outcomes of patients requiring parenteral nutrition. However, the superiority of fish oil emulsion to medium-chain triacylglycerols/long-chain triacylglycerols for short-term administration has seldom been discussed. METHODS: Sixty-four adult patients with gastrointestinal diseases were randomly assigned to receive isocaloric and isonitrogenous total parenteral nutrition with an ω-3 fatty acid-enriched emulsion (Lipoplus; study group, n = 32) or medium-chain triacylglycerols/long-chain triacylglycerols (Lipofundin; control group, n = 32) for 5 d after surgery. Safety and efficacy parameters were assessed on postoperative days 1, 3, and 6. RESULTS: Clinical outcomes including infectious complications and systemic inflammatory response syndrome were comparable between the two groups. Total bilirubin decreased over time in the study group versus an increase in the control group (P = 0.017). Activated partial thromboplastin time in the study group was prolonged significantly compared with the control group from days 1 to 3 (P = 0.002), although the prolongation stopped at the study termination. There were no differences in changes of C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-8, IL-10, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and the distribution of the T-cell subpopulation between the two groups. However, fish oil consumption led to an increase in leukotriene B5/ leukotriene B4 and significant decreases in IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nuclear factor-κB. Furthermore, the overall changes in tumor necrosis factor-α and nuclear factor-κB were positively associated (R(2) = 0.295, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal surgery patients benefited from a fish oil-enriched emulsion rather than medium-chain triacylglycerols/long-chain triacylglycerols in the amelioration of liver function and immune status. The positive association of tumor necrosis factor-α and nuclear factor-κB might be involved in the potential anti-inflammation mechanism of fish oil.

Surgical intervention in the setting of parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis may exacerbate liver injury.

PURPOSE: This study compares postoperative markers of liver injury in patients receiving intravenous fish oil (IFO) with parenteral nutrition (PN)-associated cholestasis (PNAC) to patients with resolved PNAC. METHODS: A retrospective review of all cholestatic-IFO patients undergoing abdominal laparotomy between March 1, 2007, and July 1, 2009, led to inclusion of 23 patients who collectively underwent 27 abdominal operations (13 pre-PNAC resolution and 14 post-PNAC resolution). Direct bilirubin (DB), total bilirubin, and alanine aminotransferase levels were examined over time in relation to operations. The time to resume presurgical trend of decreasing DB was calculated. RESULTS: Sixty-nine percent (9/13) of pre-PNAC resolution procedures were associated with postoperative increase in DB compared with 7% (1/14) of post-PNAC resolution procedures associated with a recurrence of cholestasis (P = .02; odds ratio, 29.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.79-306.8). The median time to return to the preoperative downward trend of DB was 21 days. CONCLUSIONS: Operations before PNAC resolution may be associated with an increased postoperative DB, possibly reflecting an exacerbation of liver injury. Operations post-PNAC resolution on IFO had a comparatively low incidence of postoperative cholestasis recurrence. Excepting clinical indication otherwise, it may be advisable to delay surgical intervention in the setting of PNAC in certain cases.

Systematic review of postdischarge oral nutritional supplementation in patients undergoing GI surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether nutritional supplementation following hospital discharge in patients who undergo gastrointestinal (GI) surgery is beneficial in specific outcome measures. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted of randomized controlled trials comparing nutritional supplements vs a "standard care" regimen given to patients following discharge from hospital after GI surgery. Outcome measures were weight change, quality of life, clinical complications, fatigue, and hand grip strength. RESULTS: Four studies were identified. Postdischarge oral nutritional supplements were found to be safe and increased energy intake, protein intake, and weight in patients after discharge from hospital. The greatest gains in weight were seen in malnourished patients. Little evidence was found that nutritional supplements reduce morbidity or improve quality of life, fatigue, or hand-grip strength. Only one study was methodologically adequate, and none were powered to detect differences in clinical complications. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who undergo GI surgery and receive nutritional supplements after discharge from hospital, little evidence of clinical benefit was found, principally through lack of robust data. All the studies were under-powered or not specifically designed to show benefit during this period. It is recommended that nutritional supplements be offered to malnourished patients or those at high risk of poor dietary intake at discharge from hospital.