Effects of Various Enteral Nutrition Solutions on Bacterial Translocation and Intestinal Morphology During the Postoperative Period Akin Aydogan, MD Kemal Kismet, MD Bulent Kilicoglu, MD Serap Erel, MD Ali Haldun Ozcan, MD Avni Gollu, MD 4th General Surgery Department Eda Yildiz, MD Microbiology Department Mehmet Ali Akkus, Prof, MD 4th General Surgery Department Ankara Training and Research Hospital Ankara, Turkey ABSTRACT Bacterial translocation is the passage of bacteria or endotoxins from the gas- trointestinal tract to extraintestinal sites, such as mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and bloodstream. In this study, the investigators examined the effects of various enteral nutrients on bacterial translocation and intestinal morphology during the postoperative period. Sixty rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, each of which included 12 animals; cecal mobilization was performed in all groups. Group I rats were fed rat chow and water; group II was given standard enteral nutrients; group III, high-energy enteral nutrients; group IV, enteral nutri- ents supplemented with fiber; and group V, immunonutrients. Bacterial translo- cation was detected in mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and blood cultures. Changes in the terminal ileum were scored from 0 to 4 with the mor- phologic scoring system. Bacterial translocation was predominantly detected in mesenteric lymph nodes. Rats fed immunonutrients (group V) showed a sig- nificant reduction in bacterial translocation compared with other groups. Although minor morphologic alterations in the villi were observed in groups IV and V, the histologic scores of these groups were not statistically different from 41 Advances in Therapy ® Volume 24 No. 1 January/February 2007 Address correspondence to Dr. Bulent Kilicoglu Ankara Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi 4.Genel Cerrahi Klinigi, 06340 Ulucanlar Ankara, Turkey Email: kilicoglubulent@yahoo.com © 2007 Health Communications Inc Transmission and reproduction of this material in whole or part without prior written approval are prohibited. 1012