Postoperative total parenteral nutrition in patients with liver disorders

Sixty-one patients with liver disorders receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for about 14 postoperative days were divided into three groups based on the parenteral nutritional regimen. The influence of these TPN solutions on the liver function tests and the nutritional assessments, and the availability of the specially formulated amino acid solution were studied. Glucose alone as energy source was infused in Group Ia. The mixture of glucose and fructose was infused in Group Ib. In these patients (Group I), a commercially available amino acid solution was administered simultaneously. A specially formulated amino acid, rich in branched-chain amino acids but poor in aromatic amino acids was infused with the mixture of glucose and fructose in Group II. There was no remarkable elevation of blood glucose and lactate levels in all patients. Blood glucose levels in Group Ib were maintained lower than that in Group Ia. Except for serum alkaline phosphatase, no remarkable abnormality was observed in liver function tests. Body weight changes were less than 5% in each group. Average nitrogen balances were -44.5 mg/kg/day in Group Ia, -5.5 mg/kg/day in Group Ib, -51.5 mg/kg/day in Group II. While the abnormalities in serum amino acid pattern and molar ratio of leucine, isoleucine, and valine to phenylalanine and tyrosine tend to be more enhanced in Group I, these abnormalities returned to near normal in Group II during TPN. By multiple linear regression analyses, 45 kcal/kg/day of energy intake would be required to maintain nitrogen equilibrium and zero body weight change. And when nitrogen intakes were 159 mg/kg/day in Group Ia, 114 mg/kg/day in Group Ib, and 189 mg/kg/day in Group II at 45 kcal/kg/day in energy intake, nitrogen balances were expected to be equivalent. These results suggest that postoperative TPN is good for nutritional support in patients with liver disorders. And also, the combination of glucose and fructose has better effect on nitrogen balance. The postoperative TPN with a specially formulated amino acid solution may be a valuable way of maintaining the nutritional status as well as normal serum amino acid pattern in patients with liver disorders.     

Fat emulsion adversely affects lymphocyte reactivity

Although nutritional repletion of malnourished individuals may improve tests of cell-mediated immunity, the effects of intravenous nutrient solutions themselves on the immune system are largely unknown. This study examined the effects of five parenteral nutrition solutions on in vitro lymphocyte reactivity and measured lymphocyte responsiveness in patients receiving parenteral nutrition. Normal human lymphocytes were incubated with dilutions of an amino acid/dextrose solution, an amino acid/dextrose/fat solution, an amino acid solution, dextrose, and a fat emulsion, and lymphocyte responsiveness to antigenic (PPD) and mitogenic (PHA) stimulation was measured using an in vitro electrophoretic test of cell-mediated immunity. Lymphocyte reactivity was measured in 15 postoperative patients allocated randomly to receive either simple electrolyte solutions or isocaloric parenteral regimes with or without a fat emulsion. In vitro lymphocyte responses were significantly depressed (P less than 0.001) by the fat emulsion at concentrations similar to those achieved in clinical practice but were unaffected by dextrose or amino acid solutions. Lymphocyte reactivity was significantly depressed in patients during infusion of the fat emulsion in comparison with controls (P less than 0.05). The results show that fat emulsion impairs lymphocyte reactivity and suggest that careful consideration should be given before using fat emulsions in patients in whom cell-mediated immunity is impaired already.     

中、长链脂肪乳剂对肝硬变门脉高压术后脂蛋白、肝功能及胆红素代谢的影响

选择肝硬变门脉高压病人15例，随机分为两组：长链脂肪乳剂组（n＝8，简称LCT组），中／长链脂肪乳剂组（n＝7，简称MCT组）。两组供氮每天每千克体重0．15～0．2g，非蛋白质热卡为每天每千克体重20～25kcal。LCT组脂肪能源由20％－Intralipid提供，MCT组由20％－LiPofundinMCT／LCT提供。糖脂供能比为2：1。在术前、术后1、4、7天，测定肝、肾功能及胆红素血脂代谢变化。结果表明，术后第1天胆红素明显升高，但MCT组胆红素随后显著下降，I－CT组下降速度慢于MCT组，PM0.05，两组对肝脏功能无明显影响。整个实验过程中甘油三酯无明显变化。提示门脉高压术后PN使用LCT或MCT／LCT乳剂基本上是安全有效的。MCT／LCT乳剂显示出更好的优越性。     

Patterns of liver test abnormalities in patients with surgical sepsis

The progression of changes in biochemical liver test results during moderate and severe sepsis (SS) was studied prospectively in 43 patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit. Using predetermined criteria, severity of sepsis was assessed by physicians blinded to the liver test results. Linear regression analysis showed that bilirubin levels increased at a rate approximating 0.95 mg/dl/day in patients with SS, whereas alkaline phosphatase levels did not rise initially in these patients. Following peak hyperbilirubinemia, however, alkaline phosphatase levels increased at approximately 4 IU/L/day. In patients with moderate sepsis (MS), bilirubin levels increased slowly (approximately 0.4 mg/dl/day) but alkaline phosphatase levels increased rapidly (approximately 29 IU/L/day). Following peak hyperbilirubinemia, alkaline phosphatase levels did not change. These data define patterns of liver test abnormalities of clinical importance. Rapidly rising bilirubin levels with little change in alkaline phosphatase levels are associated with SS, whereas markedly elevated alkaline phosphatase levels may indicate MS or resolution of SS. In critically ill surgical patients subjected to many potential hepatic insults, recognition of liver dysfunction with these patterns should alert the clinician to the possibility of underlying sepsis.     

Immunological disorders and correction of them in surgical patients with atherosclerosis obliterance

Atherosclerosis obliterance and critical lower limb ischemia lead to immunodeficiency and disbalance of T- and B- components of immune system. Surgical treatment doesn't eliminate but in a number of cases aggravates immune disorders. Immunocorrection stimulates anti-infectious protection. Indications to different variants of immunocorrection are formulated.     

Umbilical hernia in patients with liver cirrhosis: A surgical challenge

Umbilical hernia occurs in 20% of the patients with liver cirrhosis complicated with ascites. Due to the enormous intraabdominal pressure secondary to the ascites, umbilical hernia in these patients has a tendency to enlarge rapidly and to complicate. The treatment of umbilical hernia in these patients is a surgical challenge. Ascites control is the mainstay to reduce hernia recurrence and postoperative complications, such as wound infection, evisceration, ascites drainage, and peritonitis. Intermittent paracentesis, temporary peritoneal dialysis catheter or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt may be necessary to control ascites. Hernia repair is indicated in patients in whom medical treatment is effective in controlling ascites. Patients who have a good perspective to be transplanted within 3-6 mo, herniorrhaphy should be performed during transplantation. Hernia repair with mesh is associated with lower recurrence rate, but with higher surgical site infection when compared to hernia correction with conventional fascial suture. There is no consensus on the best abdominal wall layer in which the mesh should be placed: Onlay, sublay, or underlay. Many studies have demonstrated several advantages of the laparoscopic umbilical herniorrhaphy in cirrhotic patients compared with open surgical treatment.     

Major resections of the liver in patients with high surgical risk

Experience with 75 major anatomic resections of the liver in patients with high surgical risk due to low functional reserve of the liver, spontaneous disruption of hepatic tumor, chronic purulent infection in patients with hepatic abscesses, posttraumatic sequestration of the liver with hemobilia, giant hepatic hemangiomas, old age and severe concomitant diseases was analyzed. General postoperative lethality was 14.7% which was determined mainly by unfavorable outcomes in postoperative patients in spontaneous disruption of tumor and massive intraabdominal bleeding, and also by severe postoperative hepatic insufficiency in patients after right-sided hemihepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma with postnecrotic cirrhosis of the liver. Immediate results of surgery in patients with obstructive jaundice and biliary hepatic cirrhosis were better that ones of patients with postnecrotic cirrhosis. There were no lethal outcomes in group of patients after surgery for giant hemangiomas, abscesses and posttraumatic sequestration of the liver. Thorough selection of patients based on detailed study of functional hepatic reserves and also volume of removed hepatic parenchyma is necessary for improvement of immediate results of surgical treatment. It is valid to perform portal venous embolization before right-sided hemihepatectomy in patients with postnecrotic, biliary cirrhosis, and also in old patients to decrease the risk of postresection hepatic insufficiency. Roentgenondovascular occlusion of the hepatic artery, Cell-Seiver use for intraoperative blood reinfusion and in some cases--use of methods of complete vascular isolation of the liver are indicated for patients with giant hepatic hemangiomas.     

Preserved gastric tonometric variables in cardiac surgical patients administered intravenous perflubron emulsion

Low gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) and an increased gastric-arterial PCO2 difference (CO2 gap) are markers of tissue hypoperfusion. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) have a large oxygen-carrying capacity and release oxygen when encountering low tissue oxygen tension. Nine cardiac surgical patients instrumented for gastric tonometry were enrolled as part of a multicenter, randomized, single-blinded study of a PFC emulsion (perflubron emulsion [Oxygent]). Patients were randomized to receive PFC (n = 4) or placebo (n = 5) after intraoperative autologous blood harvesting by acute normovolemic hemodilution. At baseline there were no intergroup differences in tonometric-, hemodynamic-, or oxygen delivery-derived variables, e.g., Control group (pHi, 7.37 +/- 0.06; CO2 gap, 6.4 +/- 1.3 mm Hg) versus PFC group (pHi, 7.38 +/- 0.06; CO2 gap, 6.7 +/- 1.5 mm Hg). After acute normovolemic hemodilution, pHi was significantly lower (P < 0.01) in the Control group (7.22 +/- 0.25) than in the PFC group (7.44 +/- 0.25), and CO2 gap was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the Control group (23.4 +/- 5.1 mm Hg) than in the PFC group (1.8 +/- 0.8 mm Hg). These differences in tonometric variables persisted during surgery. The PFC group showed a significantly (P < 0.007) shorter time to first bowel movement postoperatively (2.0 +/- 0.8 vs 5.4 +/- 1.6 days). Time to consumption of solid food was also shorter in the PFC group and almost achieved statistical significance (P = 0.056). IMPLICATIONS: This study suggests that the administration of perflubron emulsion prevents gastrointestinal tract ischemia in cardiac surgical patients and may preserve postoperative gastrointestinal tract function.     

Prevention and treatment of neuro-psychological disorders in surgical patients

On the basis of studying the case records of 1259 patients of surgical profile with different neuropsychic disorders, the authors recommend the methods for prevention and rational treatment of these disorders.