Influence of Early Postoperative Feeding in Gastrointestinal Anastomotic Fistula Formation and Healing Time in Rabbits

Innovative approach: utilizing silver nanoparticles sheet for improved rabbit cecal anastomosis healing

Introduction

Anastomotic leakage is a severe complication associated with gastrointestinal surgery. The process of intestinal wound healing is crucial for the successful outcome of digestive tract surgical repair procedures. This research aimed to determine the impact of silver nanoparticles sheet (Acticoat) on the anastomotic healing of the cecum in rabbits.

Methods

A total of 48 New Zealand male rabbits in good health were used for cecum transection and anastomosis. The animals were randomized into the control group (C) and the silver nanoparticles group (AgNPs). In the C group, the transected cecum was end-to-end anastomosed with a single layer of simple continuous suture pattern using 3-0 polyglyconate. In contrast, a silver nanoparticle sheet (Acticoat) was covered around the sutured anastomotic line in the AgNPs group. Postoperatively, abdominal ultrasound imaging and the Bristol Rabbit Pain Score (BRPS) were measured on days 7, 15, and 30. Eight rabbits from each group were euthanized at each time point to assess macroscopic findings, bursting pressure tests, tensile strength tests, histopathological examinations, and immunohistochemical analyses.

Results

The AgNPs group demonstrated a significant increase in the cecal lumen diameter wall (p ≤ 0.001), burst pressure measurement (p ≤ 0.02), and tensile strength (p ≤ 0.01). Conversely, the AgNPs group had significantly lower BRPS scores (p ≤ 0.01). In addition, histopathological examinations revealed that AgNPs significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration (neutrophils and macrophages) and enhanced collagen deposition. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed a significant increase (p ≤ 0.01) of α-SMA and a reduction of CD31 in the anastomotic tissue of the AgNPs group.

Discussion

The results of the present study indicate that the utilization of the AgNPs sheet (Acticoat®) effectively enhanced the strength of cecum anastomosis, resulting in a reduction in anastomosis leakages, pain scores, and abdominal adhesions. Additionally, the bursting pressure values in the rabbit model were significantly increased.

Early oral feeding following intestinal anastomosis surgery in infants: a multicenter real world study

Background

To prevent postoperative complications, delayed oral feeding (DOF) remains a common model of care following pediatric intestinal anastomosis surgery; however, early oral feeding (EOF) has been shown to be safe and effective in reducing the incidence of complications and fast recovery after pediatric surgery. Unfortunately, the evidence in support of EOF after intestinal anastomosis (IA) in infants is insufficient. Therefore, this study was primarily designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EOF. In addition, the current status of EOF application and associated factors that favor or deter EOF implementation were also assessed.

Methods

A total of 898 infants were divided into two groups (EOF group, n = 182; DOF group, n = 716), and the clinical characteristics were collected to identify the factors associated with EOF in infants. Complications and recovery were also compared to define the safety and efficacy after balancing the baseline data by propensity score matching (PSM) (EOF group, n = 179; DOF group, n = 319).

Results

The total EOF rate in infants with IA was 20.3%. Multivariate logistic regression revealed significant differences in the EOF rates based on IA site and weight at the time of surgery (OR = 0.652, 95% CI: 0.542-0.784, p < 0.001) and (OR = 1.188, 95% CI: 1.036-1.362, p = 0.013), respectively. The duration of total parenteral nutrition (TPN), parenteral nutrition (PN), and postoperative hospital stay were significantly shorter in the EOF group than the DOF group [2.0 (1.0, 2.0) d vs. 5.0 (3.0, 6.0) d; 6.0 (5.0, 8.0) d vs. 8.0 (6.0, 11.0) d; 10.0 (7.0, 14.0) d vs. 12.0 (9.0, 15.0) d, all p < 0.001]. The rates of abdominal distension and vomiting in the EOF group were significantly higher than the DOF group (17.9% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.001; 7.8% vs. 2.5%, p = 0.006); however, no differences were found in failure to initial OF, diarrhea, hematochezia, and anastomotic leakage between the two groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The overall rate of EOF in infants following IA was low, and the sites of anastomosis and weight at surgery were two factors associated with EOF. Nevertheless, performing EOF in infants after IA was safe and effective, reduced PN usage, shortened the hospital stay, and did not increase the rate of severe complications.Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrails.gov, identifier NCT04464057.

Early versus the traditional start of oral intake following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Nil by mouth is considered the standard of care during the first days following esophagectomy. However, with the routine implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery, early oral intake is more likely to be the preferred mode of nutrition following esophagectomy. The present study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of early oral intake following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

METHODS

Comprehensive literature searches were conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Weighted mean differences (WMD) and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated as the effect sizes for continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies with a total of 1947 patients were included. Length of hospital stay (WMD =  - 3.94, CI: - 4.98 to - 2.90; P < 0.001), the time to first flatus (WMD =  - 1.13, CI: - 1.25 to - 1.01; P < 0.001) and defecation (WMD =  - 1.26, CI: - 1.82 to - 0.71; P < 0.001) favored the early oral intake group. There was no statistically significant difference in mortality (OR = 1.23, CI: 0.45 to 3.36; P = 0.69). Early oral intake also did not increase the risk of pneumonia and overall postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence indicates early oral intake following esophagectomy seems to be safe and effective. It may be the preferred mode of nutrition following esophagectomy. However, more high-quality studies are still needed to further validate this conclusion.

Early enteral feeding versus traditional feeding in neonatal congenital gastrointestinal malformation undergoing intestinal anastomosis: A randomized multicenter controlled trial of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) component

PURPOSE

the aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of early enteral feeding (EEN) following intestinal anastomosis in neonates with congenital gastrointestinal malformation.

METHODS

a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial (registered under chictr.org.cn Identifier no.ChiCTR-INR-17014179) was conducted between 2018 and 2019. Four centers in China analyzed 156 newborns of congenital gastrointestinal malformation undergoing intestinal anastomosis to EEN group (n = 78) or control (C) group (n = 78). The primary outcomes of this study were length of postoperative stay (LOPS) and time to full feeds. Secondary outcomes included morbidity of complications, parenteral nutrition (PN) duration, feeding intolerance, 30 day mortality rate and 30 day readmission rate.

RESULTS

the mean time to full feeds and LOPS in the EEN group were 15.0 (9.8-22.8) days and 17.6 (12.0-29.8) days, while that were 18.0 (12.0-24.0) days and 20.0 (15.0-30.3) days in C groups respectively. There was no significant difference between two groups(P >0.05). No significant intergroup difference was found with respect to postoperative morbidity, PN duration or feeding intolerance(P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

early enteral feeding following intestinal anastomosis in neonates with congenital gastrointestinal malformation is safe. Post-operative outcomes demonstrated a trend toward improvement.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level Ⅰ.

Early versus late oral feeding following total (pharyngo)laryngectomy: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Timing of oral feeding following total laryngectomy is a contentious issue with highly varied practices. Multiple database search was performed to identify studies comparing outcomes of early (≤5 days) versus late (>5 days) oral feeding. Bias assessment was carried out using Cochrane bias tool. Random-effects meta-analysis was used. The review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The rate of pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) in randomized control trials (RCTs) in early versus late feeding was 15.2% versus 11.7% (RR 1.35, 95%CI [0.68-2.7], p = 0.40). The rate of PCF in the cohort studies was 14.1% versus 20.5% (RR 1.0, 95%CI [0.76-1.3], p = 0.98). The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the early feeding group (mean difference (days) -4.68 (-6.2 to -3.1, p < 0.0001). Early oral feeding appears to be safe and is associated with shorter hospital stay. However, the quality of evidence is low and the patient characteristics are not representative of current practices.