Mechanical intestinal cleansing and antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing bacterial translocation during the Pringle maneuver in rabbits.

PURPOSE: We investigated the effectiveness of mechanical intestinal cleansing and antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing bacterial translocation (BT) during the Pringle maneuver in rabbits.

METHODS

Forty-eight rabbits were allocated to one of the following four groups: a control group (group 1); an antibiotic group, given 100 mg/kg intravenous ceftizoxime (group 2); a mechanical intestinal cleansing group, given a Fleet enema (group 3); and a mechanical intestinal cleansing plus antibiotic group (group 4). After performing laparotomy, we dissected the portal region and turned the portal triad, using tape. Pringle maneuver was applied for 30 min in all groups. Blood samples were collected from the portal vein for blood culture before the Pringle maneuver. All groups underwent relaparotomy 30 min after the Pringle maneuver, to obtain portal blood, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), and splenic tissue for culture.

RESULTS

All cultures from the portal vein specimens taken before the Pringle maneuver were negative. The rate of bacterial isolation in the portal vein (P < 0.001), MLNs (P < 0.01), and splenic (P < 0.001) cultures was significantly lower in group 4 than in the other groups. It was also lower in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of mechanical intestinal cleansing and preoperative broad-spectrum antibiotics was most effective for preventing BT during the Pringle maneuver.