Carbohydrate supplementation before operation retains intestinal barrier function and lowers bacterial translocation in a rat model of major abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Overnight fasting of rats augments the susceptibility of the small intestine to ischemia-reperfusion damage. Feeding before surgery may improve injuries to distant organs that were induced by ischemia-reperfusion. The present study tested the hypothesis that one of the food constituents, namely carbohydrates, may be responsible for the protective effect of preoperative feeding on postoperative organ dysfunction. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were fed ad libitum for 5 d and had either free access to water or free access to a carbohydrate drink and water. Then they were fasted for 16 h and access remained to either water or a carbohydrate drink and water. Following this, the arteria mesenterica superior was clamped for 60 min followed by 180 min of reperfusion. Subsequently, the intestinal permeability of stripped ileum was determined by measuring the mucosal to serosal flux in Ussing chambers. For assessment of bacterial content, organs were aseptically removed and assessed for bacterial content by culture under anaerobic conditions. RESULTS: Preoperative supplementation with carbohydrates resulted in a better maintenance of intestinal barrier function when compared with water supplemented animals. Moreover, carbohydrate supplementation resulted in a reduction in the ischemiareperfusion-induced increase in bacterial content of the liver, kidney, and mesenteric lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative intake of carbohydrates by rats retains both the intestinal barrier function and prevents translocation of bacteria to distant organs.

Preoperative feeding preserves heart function and decreases oxidative injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE: The nutritional status of a patient has been implicated as an important factor in the development of postoperative complications. Fasting before an operation may have detrimental effects on the metabolic state. We hypothesized that there was a positive correlation between preoperative nutritional status and postoperative organ function. METHODS: Preoperative feeding was compared with fasting with respect to effects on organ function and biochemical parameters in an animal model of extensive large abdominal surgery. Male Wistar rats were fed ad libitum or fasted for 16 h, after which the arteria mesenterica superior was clamped for 60 min followed by 180 min of reperfusion. RESULTS: After the ischemic period, heart function was significantly better in animals that were fed ad libitum than in fasted animals. Moreover, after intestinal ischemia and reperfusion, fed rats showed significantly higher levels of intestinal adenosine triphosphate and a significantly higher malondialdehyde concentration in the intestine and lung than did fasted rats. The ratio of adenosine triphosphate to adenosine diphosphate in the liver, an indicator of energy status, in fed rats was similar to that in a sham group, whereas fasted animals showed a significantly lower value. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative nutrition in contrast to fasting may attenuate ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury and preserve organ function in the rat.