Effects of intraoperative glucose administration on circulating metabolites and nitrogen balance during prolonged surgery

Study Objectives: To compare the effects of intraoperative administration of 2.5% glucose or Ringer’s solution on metabolism during prolonged surgery.

Design: Prospective, randomized study.

Setting: Teaching hospital.

Patients: 20 ASA physical status I and II adults patients scheduled for thoracic or abdominal surgery lasting at least 3 hours.

Interventions: Patients received Ringer’s solution (Group R) or 2.5% glucose solution (Group G) 10 ml · kg⁻¹ · h⁻¹ during surgery and 2 ml · kg.⁻¹ · h⁻¹ during the first two postoperative hours (Ringer’s or glucose), then 40 ml · kg.⁻¹ · day⁻¹ of 5% intravenous (IV) glucose postoperatively.

Measurements and Main Results: Plasma glucose, free fatty acids, ketone bodies, lactate, insulin, glucagon, cortisol, and growth hormone concentrations were determined after an overnight fast (T₀), on induction of anesthesia (T₁), at the end of surgery (T₂), 2 hours thereafter (T₃), and on the following morning (T₄). Capillary blood glucose was determined every 30 minutes from T₁ to T₂. Urinary nitrogen and 3-methylhistidine were measured every day for 5 days. There were no differences between groups in demographic data, anesthesia, or surgical procedures. All data were comparable at baseline and on the following morning. In Group R, no patient experienced hypoglycemia, but plasma fatty acids and ketone bodies increased during surgery. In Group G, glycemia rose to very high levels, with a significant increase in insulin during surgery. Other hormones were the same within the two groups. Urinary nitrogen and 3-methylhistidine were similar in both groups.

Conclusion: The absence of glucose infusion in prolonged surgery did not cause hypoglycemia, and no increase in protein catabolism was observed.     

Superior nitrogen balance after laparoscopic-assisted colectomy.

BACKGROUND: Although early resumption of enteral feeding after gastrointestinal surgery results in improved nitrogen balance and lower infectious complications, no postoperative nutritional data after laparoscopic-assisted colectomy exists. OBJECTIVE: The authors prospectively compared nitrogen balance after laparoscopic-assisted colectomy versus open colectomy. METHODS: This is a series of colon resections (open, N = 10; laparoscopic-assisted, N = 9) at the Ferguson-Blodgett Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan, between January and March 1993. Nitrogen intake and 24-hour urine collections were performed on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7 for the analysis of total urinary nitrogen and urinary 3 methylhistidine-(3mH). RESULTS: The time to passage of flatus (4.7 +/- 0.6; 2.0 +/- 0.2), resumption of oral intake (6.1 +/- 0.7; 1.4 +/- 0.2; p < 0.05, Student's test), first bowel movement (5.2 +/- 1.0; 3.0 +/- 0.3; p < 0.05, Student;s t test), and discharge (10.3 +/- 1.3; 4.1 +/- 1.8; p < 0.05, Student's t test) occurred significantly earlier in the laparoscopic-assisted colectomy group. Overall hospital charges were lower in the laparoscopic-assisted colectomy group ($11,572 +/- $823 vs. $13,961 +/- $1050). The operative time was higher in the laparoscopic-assisted colectomy group (176 +/- 12 hours vs. 105 +/- 17 hours, p < 0.05,Student's test). Blood loss was higher in the open group (805 +/- 264 mL vs 217 +/- 32 mL, p < 0.05, Student's test). Urinary nitrogen losses were similar between the two groups; however, significantly more patients in the laparoscopic-assisted colectomy group achieved net positive nitrogen on day 3 (6/9; 0/10; p < 0.05, Fisher's exact test), and day 7 (9/9; 4/10; p < 0.05, Fisher's exact test). Infectious complications occurred less frequently in the laparoscopic-assisted colectomy group (0/9 vs. 4/10; p < 0.05, Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing laparoscopic-assisted colectomy can achieve early resumption of enteral nutrition with earlier return to positive nitrogen balance compared with open colectomy. This may offer benefits of fewer infectious complications and lower cost of care.     

7.5%高渗盐水对腹部外科手术后液体平衡的影响

目的　探讨 7.5 %高渗盐水对腹部外科手术后液体平衡的影响。方法　 2 0例择期腹部大手术和 6例重症腹膜炎急诊手术患者 ,配对分为两组对比。术毕进入外科ICU后 ,研究组(n =13 )应用 7.5 %高渗盐水 (4ml/kg体重 ) ,后续平衡液 ;对照组 (n =13 )仅用平衡液。比较两组患者的输液量、尿量、液体平衡和体重变化。结果　与对照组相比 ,研究组术后尿量较多 ,术后第 1天和术后 48h的差异有显著性 (t =2 .6612 ,P =0 .0 2 0 7;t=3 .6863 ,P =0 .0 0 3 1) ;手术当日和术后 48h的液体正平衡量较少 ,差异有显著性 (t =2 .3 40 8,P =0 .0 2 79;t =2 .3 691,P =0 .0 2 62 ) ;术后体重增加幅度低于对照组 ,差异有显著性 (t =2 .2 761,P =0 .0 42 0 ) ;术后体重下降时间早于对照组 ,差异有非常显著性 (t =7.615 4,P =0 .0 0 44 )。结论　 7.5 %高渗盐水有明显的利尿作用 ,可动员、排出体内扣押的过多液体 ,减少腹部外科手术后液体正平衡 ,促进液体负平衡提前出现。     

Lipid studies after burn injury in man

Changes in the levels of cholesterol, phospholipid and triglyceride have been measured in the serum of 20 patients who had sustained a burn injury. In the group of patients with severe burns, serum triglyceride rose, reaching a peak on days 4–6 post burn, whilst cholesterol and phospholipid fell drastically. We suggest that the changes observed are a reflection of a block in the conversion of very low density lipoprotein to low density lipoprotein.     

高渗盐水和羟乙基淀粉对腹部大手术后液体平衡影响的研究

目的探讨7．5％高渗盐水（Hs）和6％羟乙基淀粉（HES）对择期腹部大手术后液体平衡和，临床结果的影响。方法2003年6月至2005年12月江汉大学附属医院共对120例胃肠道肿瘤病人行根治性切除术。所有病人术毕进入外科ICU后分为3组，HS／HES组（n=40）输注7．5％高渗盐水（4mL／kg）后续6％羟乙基淀粉500mL，再续平衡液；HS组（n=40）输注7、5％高渗盐水（4mL／kg）后续平衡液；RL（单用平衡液）组（n=40）仅输平衡液。比较3组病人的输液量、尿量、液体平衡、体重变化、动脉血氧分压／吸氧浓度分数（PaO2／FiO2）．以及并发症发生率和病死率。结果HS／HES组、HS组与RL组相比，HS／HES组、HS组手术日尿量较多．输液量减少；术后48h的液体正平衡量减少；术后体重增加值降低，PaO2／FiO2比值较高，总体并发症发生率和肺部感染发生率较低。HS／HES组与HS组相比，HS／HES组液体正平衡量减少及术后体重增加值降低更显著。结论7．5％高渗盐水有明显的利尿作用，可减少腹部大手术后的输液量和液体正平衡量，促进液体负平衡提前出现；并使术后总体并发症发生率和肺部感染发生率降低。联合应用6％羟乙基淀粉后效果更显著。     

Cough threshold after upper abdominal surgery.

The effect of upper abdominal surgery under general anaesthesia on the cough threshold was studied in 26 patients, on the basis of the concentrations of capsaicin and citric acid causing cough. Cough threshold was determined after administering doubling doses of nebulised aerosols of capsaicin and citric acid before operation and on the first and fourth postoperative days. There was an increase in cough threshold (decrease in cough sensitivity) in response to both inhaled irritants on the first postoperative day from the preoperative day and a return towards preoperative values by the fourth day after surgery. The increase in cough threshold on the first postoperative day correlated with the time since opiate administration (r = 0.7 for capsaicin, 0.52 for citric acid). These results show that the threshold concentration of chemical irritants causing cough is increased on the first postoperative day after upper abdominal surgery.     

Chylothorax after abdominal surgery

Chylothorax is usually a complication of thoracic surgery procedures. Over a 5-year period we encountered three cases of chylothorax following abdominal surgery performed in general surgery units. The initial effusions, not lactescent, were ascribed to a pleural reaction that sometimes is observed during the postoperative period after abdominal surgery. Once the diagnosis was established, the initial conservative treatment failed, and surgery was necessary. In our patients, their debilitated physical condition precluded a thoracotomy approach. A video-assisted thoracoscopy procedure was undertaken, but the extensive pleural effusions, caused in part by the delay in the diagnosis, prevented the exact localization of the duct and its closure. Talc pleurodesis was successfully employed in all patients. Even after abdominal surgery, a persistent pleural effusion should always induce us to suspect a chylothorax.     

7.5%高渗盐水对择期腹部大手术后液体平衡的影响

目的　探讨 7 5 %高渗盐水对择期腹部大手术后液体平衡的影响。方法　 2 2例择期腹部大手术患者 ,配对分为两组。术毕进入外科ICU后 ,研究组 11例应用 7 5 %高渗盐水 4ml kg ,后续平衡液 ;对照组 11例仅用平衡液。比较两组患者的输液量、尿量、液体平衡和体重变化。结果　与对照组相比 ,研究组手术日和术后第 1天尿量较多 [(2 6 5 0± 5 31)mlvs (2 0 4 6± 5 72 )ml,t=2 5 5 17,P <0 0 5 ;(2 716± 6 4 0 )mlvs (2 2 32± 4 89)ml,t=2 2 878,P <0 0 5 ];术日和术后 4 8h的液体正平衡量较少[(40 5 8± 115 9)mlvs (5 92 2± 14 93)ml,t=2 870 1,P <0 0 5 ];(492 6± 2 6 98)mlvs (76 5 6± 2 5 4 3)ml,t=2 2 2 94 ,P <0 0 5 ];术后体重增加幅度低于对照组 [(5 0± 1 9)kgvs (7 2± 1 3)kg ;t=2 80 98,P <0 0 5 ];术后体重下降时间早于对照组 [(2 4 4± 3 4 )hvs (31± 5 )h ;t =3 382 6 ,P <0 0 1]。结论　7 5 %高渗盐水有明显的利尿作用 ,可动员、排出体内扣押的过多液体 ,减少择期腹部大手术后液体正平衡 ,促进液体负平衡提前出现。     

Addition of glutamine to total parenteral nutrition after elective abdominal surgery spares free glutamine in muscle, counteracts the fall in muscle protein synthesis, and improves nitrogen balance.

Twenty-two patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery were given total parenteral nutrition (TPN) after the operation. The TPN contained either a conventional amino acid solution supplemented with glutamine or a conventional amino acid solution without supplementation. To study amino acid and protein metabolism, muscle biopsy specimens were taken before surgery and on the third postoperative day. The postoperative decrease in the intracellular concentration of free glutamine was less pronounced in the glutamine group (21.8 +/- 5.5%) than in the control group (38.7 +/- 5.1%; p less than 0.05). The protein synthesis was reflected in the concentration and size distribution of ribosomes. No significant changes in these parameters were seen in the glutamine group after the operation. In the control group, the total concentration of ribosomes fell by 27.2 +/- 8.5% (p less than 0.05), and the relative proportion of polyribosomes fell by 10.6 +/- 2.9% (p less than 0.01). Although there were significant changes in the control group, no significant differences in the changes of these parameters between the two groups were detected. The cumulative nitrogen loss was significantly less in the glutamine group as compared to the control group during the period studied--2.3 +/- 1.4 g versus 8.5 +/- 1.5 g, respectively (p less than 0.01). Administration of glutamine to catabolic patients is advocated.     

Adhesions after abdominal surgery in children

Purpose

The objective of this study is to quantify the overall burden (operative and nonoperative) of small bowel obstruction caused by adhesions after laparotomy in children.

Methods

Data from the Scottish National Health Service Medical Record Linkage database were used to assess risk of an adhesion-related readmission in the 5 years after open abdominal surgery in children and adolescents younger than 16 years from April 1996 to March 1997.

Results

A total of 1581 children underwent abdominal surgery (ie, from duodenum downward). Patients undergoing surgery on the ileum had the highest risk of readmission because of adhesions in the subsequent 5 years after surgery (9.2%)—formation/closure of ileostomy had the greatest risk (25%); 6.5% of children were readmitted after general laparotomy, 4.7% after duodenal surgery, and 2.1% after colonic surgery. The incidence of readmissions was 0.3% after appendicectomy. The overall readmission rate was 5.3% (if appendicectomy was excluded) and 1.1% (if appendicectomy was included).

Conclusion

This population-based study has demonstrated that children have a high incidence of readmissions owing to adhesions after lower abdominal surgery. The risks are related to the site and the type of the original surgery. The risk of further readmissions was highest in the first year but continued with time. The data enable surgeons to target antiadhesion strategies at procedures that lead to a high risk of adhesions.