Hypertonic saline solution reduces mesenteric microcirculatory dysfunctions and bacterial translocation in a rat model of strangulated small bowel obstruction

The Risk Factors for Perioperative Serum Albumin Variation in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Major Gastroenterology Surgery

Background: The albumin, a negative acute-phase protein, is important for perioperative morbidity, even in patients with normal preoperative levels. This study intend to determine the perioperative factors related with the postoperative reduction in serum albumin (ΔALB) and its influence on perioperative outcome in a pediatric general surgical cohort.

Methods: This single-center retrospective review included 939 pediatric patients who underwent major gastroenterology surgery from August 2010 to August 2019. The patients were dichotomized into a high ΔALB group (≥14.6%) and a low ΔALB group (<14.6%) based on the mean value of ΔALB (14.6%). the independent risk factors for ΔALB, were explored using the propensity score matching to minimize potential selection bias and subjected to method multivariable logistic regression model. Furthermore, in 366 matched patients, the influences of operating time on perioperative outcomes were analyzed.

Results: Among the 996 patients reviewed, 939 patient records were enrolled in the final analysis. Controlling for other factors, multivariable analysis showed that a high CRP on POD 3 or 4 [odds ratio (OR) = 2.36 (95% CI, 1.51–3.86); p = 0.007], a longer operating time [OR = 1.18 (95% CI, 1.00–1.53); p = 0.014), and the presence of Charcot's triad [OR = 1.73 (95% CI, 1.05–2.83); p = 0.031] were factors that predicted a high ΔALB level. A high ΔALB level was also related with gastrointestinal functional recovery delay, reflected by the postoperative defecation (p = 0.013) and bowel movement (p = 0.019) delay and the high occurrence of postoperative complications (16.1 vs. 10.9%, OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.02–2.41, P = 0.0026).

Conclusions: The high ΔALB level was correlated with postoperative outcome. To obtain a safe recovery and discharge after a major abdominal operation, the above risk factors for ΔALB could be addressed in the perioperative period.

Hypertonic Saline Solution Reduces Microcirculatory Dysfunction and Inflammation in a Rat Model of Brain Death

BACKGROUND

Brain death (BD) induces hemodynamic instability with microcirculatory hypoperfusion, leading to increased organ inflammation and dysfunction. This study investigated the effects of 7.5% hypertonic saline solution (HSS) on mesenteric microcirculatory dysfunction and inflammation in a rat model of BD.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated. BD was induced by rapidly inflating an intracranial balloon catheter. The rats were randomly divided into: SH, sham-operated rats subjected to trepanation; NS, rats treated with NaCl 0.9%, 4 mL/kg immediately after BD; T1, rats treated with HSS (NaCl 7.5%, 4 mL/kg) immediately or 60 min after BD, T60. All groups were analyzed 180 min after the start of the experiment.

RESULTS

Rats in BD groups presented with a similar hypertensive peak, followed by hypotension. Proportion of perfused small vessels was decreased in the NS group (46%) compared with the SH group (74%, P = 0.0039). HSS restored the proportion of perfused vessels (T1 = 71%, P = 0.0018). The anti-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein expression significantly increased in rats given HSS (T1, and T60, P = 0.0002). Similar results were observed regarding endothelin-1 (P < 0.0001). Increased numbers of rolling (P = 0.0015) and migrated (P = 0.0063) leukocytes were observed in the NS group compared with the SH group. Rats given HSS demonstrated an overall reduction in leukocyte-endothelial interactions. The ICAM-1 levels increased in the NS group compared with the SH group, and decreased in the HSS-treated groups (P = 0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

HSS may improve the density of mesenteric perfused small vessels due to its effects on eNOS and endothelin-1 protein expression, and reduces inflammation by decreasing leukocyte adhesion and migration in a rat model of BD.

Hypertonic saline and pentoxifylline enhance survival, reducing apoptosis and oxidative stress in a rat model of strangulated closed loop small bowel obstruction

OBJECTIVES

Intestinal obstruction has a high mortality rate when therapeutic treatment is delayed. Resuscitation in intestinal obstruction requires a large volume of fluid, and fluid combinations have been studied. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of hypertonic saline solution (HS) with pentoxifylline (PTX) on apoptosis, oxidative stress and survival rate.

METHODS

Wistar rats were subjected to intestinal obstruction and ischemia through a closed loop ligation of the terminal ileum and its vessels. After 24 hours, the necrotic bowel segment was resected, and the animals were randomized into four groups according to the following resuscitation strategies: Ringer's lactate solution (RL) (RL-32 ml/kg); RL+PTX (25 mg/kg); HS+PTX (HS, 7.5%, 4 ml/kg), and no resuscitation (IO-intestinal obstruction and ischemia). Euthanasia was performed 3 hours after resuscitation to obtain kidney and intestine samples. A malondialdehyde (MDA) assay was performed to evaluate oxidative stress, and histochemical analyses (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling [TUNEL], Bcl-2 and Bax) were conducted to evaluate kidney apoptosis. Survival was analyzed with another series of animals that were observed for 15 days.

RESULTS

PTX in combination with RL or HS reduced the MDA levels (nmol/mg of protein), as follows: kidney IO=0.42; RL=0.49; RL+PTX=0.31; HS+PTX=0.34 (p<0.05); intestine: IO=0.42; RL=0.48; RL+PTX=0.29; HS+PTX=0.26 (p<0.05). The number of labeled cells for TUNEL and Bax was lower in the HS+PTX group than in the other groups (p<0.05). The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was lower in the HS+PTX group than in the other groups (p<0.05). The survival rate on the 15th day was higher in the HS+PTX group (77%) than in the RL+PTX group (11%).

CONCLUSION

PTX in combination with HS enhanced survival and attenuated oxidative stress and apoptosis. However, when combined with RL, PTX did not reduce apoptosis or mortality.

Impact of hypertonic saline on postoperative complications for patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal surgery

The aim of this study was to explore the impact of 3% hypertonic saline (HS) intragastric administration for patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal surgery.During the postoperative period, 3% HS has been suggested as a means to improve the intestinal edema and reduce gastrointestinal complications.The medical records of 111 patients with HS intragastric administration following upper gastrointestinal surgery and 268 patients, served as control, were reviewed retrospectively. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for selected baseline variables. Clinical outcomes, including early gastrointestinal function recovery, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay, were compared according to the HS intragastric administration or not.HS intragastric administration was associated with prompt postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery, including first flatus (risk ratio [RR], 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89-1.65; P = 0.048) and feeding within 3 postoperative days (RR (95% CI), 0.57 (0.49-0.77); P = 0.036). Early ileus occurred in 25 of 108 patients with HS treatment versus 36 of 108 patients without HS treatment (RR (95% CI), 1.43 (0.63-2.15); P = 0.065). The patients with HS experienced a lower overall postoperative complication (odds ratio [OD] 0.57; 95% CI, 0.33-1.09; P = 0.063), including trend toward a decrease for infectious complications (15[13.9] vs 23[21.3]; P = 0.11; OD, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.29-1.22). There was a decreased incidence of anastomotic leakage (1[0.9] vs 7[6.5]; P = 0.033) and postoperative ileuas (5[4.6%] vs 11[10.2%]; P = 0.096) in the HS administration patients.Our study demonstrated beneficial postoperative clinical effects of HS intragastric administration in patients who had undergone upper gastrointestinal surgery, such as prompt postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery and reduced overall postoperative complications, which may be attributed to a reduced intestinal edema.

Effects of different types of fluid resuscitation for hemorrhagic shock on splanchnic organ microcirculation and renal reactive oxygen species formation

INTRODUCTION

Fluid resuscitation is an indispensable procedure in the acute management of hemorrhagic shock for restoring tissue perfusion, particularly microcirculation in splanchnic organs. Resuscitation fluids include crystalloids, hypertonic saline (HTS), and synthetic colloids, and their selection affects the recovery of microcirculatory blood flow and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, which is often evident in the kidney, following reperfusion. In this study, the effects of acute resuscitation with 0.9% saline (NS), 3% HTS, 4% succinylated gelatin (GEL), and 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 were compared in a hemorrhagic shock rat model to analyze restoration of microcirculation among various splanchnic organs and the gracilis muscle and reperfusion-induced renal ROS formation.

METHODS

A total of 96 male Wistar rats were subjected to sham operation (sham group), hemorrhagic shock (control group), and resuscitation with NS, HTS, GEL and HES. Two hours after resuscitation, changes in the mean arterial pressure (MAP), serum lactate level and the microcirculatory blood flow among various splanchnic organs, namely the liver, kidney, and intestine (mucosa, serosal muscular layer, and Peyer's patch), and the gracilis muscle, were compared using laser speckle contrast imaging. Renal ROS formation after reperfusion was investigated using an enhanced in vivo chemiluminescence (CL) method.

RESULTS

Microcirculatory blood flow was less severely affected by hemorrhaging in the liver and gracilis muscle. Impairment of microcirculation in the kidney was restored in all resuscitation groups. Resuscitation in the NS group failed to restore intestinal microcirculation. Resuscitation in the HTS, GEL, and HES groups restored intestinal microcirculatory blood flow. By comparison, fluid resuscitation restored hemorrhagic shock-induced hypotension and decreased lactatemia in all resuscitation groups. Reperfusion-induced in vivo renal ROS formation was significantly higher in the GEL and HES groups than in the other groups.

CONCLUSION

Although fluid resuscitation with NS restored the MAP and decreased lactatemia following hemorrhagic shock, intestinal microcirculation was restored only by other volume expanders, namely 3% HTS, GEL, and HES. However, reperfusion-induced renal ROS formation was significantly higher when synthetic colloids were used.

Periarrest intestinal bacterial translocation and resuscitation outcome

During the periarrest period, intestinal ischemia may result in barrier dysfunction and bacterial translocation, which has clear mechanistic links to inflammation and cascade stimulation, especially in patients who are treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Despite optimal management, periarrest bacterial translocation may worsen the outcome of cardiac arrest victims.

Pentoxifylline attenuates leukocyte-endothelial interactions in a two-hit model of shock and sepsis

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) combined with resuscitation fluids on microcirculatory dysfunctions in a two-hit model of shock and sepsis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Wistar rats (250 g) were submitted to hemorrhagic shock and reperfusion followed by sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture. For the initial treatment of shock, rats were randomly divided into: sham, no injury, no treatment; hypertonic saline solution (HS) (7.5%, 4 mL/kg); lactated Ringer's solution (LR, 3 × shed blood volume); HS + PTX (4 mL/Kg + 25 mg/kg PTX); and LR + PTX (3 × shed blood volume + 25 mg/kg PTX). After 48 h of being exposed to the double injury, leukocyte-endothelial interactions were assessed by intravital microscopy of the mesentery. Endothelial expression of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, as well as lung neutrophil infiltration by histology.

RESULTS

Lactated Ringer's solution induced marked increases (P < 0.001) in the number of rolling leukocytes per 10 min (two-fold), adherent leukocytes per 100 μm venule length (six-fold), migrated leukocytes per 5000 μm(2) (eight-fold), P-selectin and ICAM-1 expression (four-fold), and lung neutrophil infiltration (three-fold) compared with sham. In contrast, PTX attenuated leukocyte-endothelial interactions, P-selectin and ICAM-1 expression at the mesentery when associated with either LR (P < 0.001) or HS (P < 0.05). Neutrophil migration into the lungs was similarly reduced by PTX (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Data presented showed that pentoxifylline attenuates microcirculatory disturbances at the mesenteric bed with significant minimization of lung inflammation after a double-injury model of hemorrhagic shock and reperfusion followed by sepsis.