ENTERIC BACTERIAL TRANSLOCATION AFTER INTRAPERITONEAL IMPLANTATION OFRUBBER DRAIN PIECES

To study the kinetics and mechanisms of bacterial translocation from t he gut after intraperitoneal (IP) implantation of prosthetic materials , different sizes of rubber drain pieces were intraperitoneally implan ted in the rat, followed by evaluation of ileal mucosal permeability a fter 2 days and of the occurrence of bacterial translocation and gut o xygen extraction at various time points. Enteric bacteria translocated to mesenteric lymph nodes and disseminated to systemic organs (liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys), the portal vein, and inferior vena cava 2, 4, and 6 h after IP implantation of rubber drain pieces with 10-, 7 -, and 3-cm2 areas, respectively, and subsequently to the IP rubber dr ain piece and the peritoneal cavity on the 2nd postoperative day. The incidence of translocation correlated with the size of the implanted m aterial and time after implantation. The gut oxygen extraction increas ed significantly after IP implantation of 7- and 10-cm2 rubber drain p ieces. The ileal mucosal permeability was enhanced in the groups impla nted with 7- and 10-cm2 drain pieces. Thus, bacterial translocation oc curs already in the early period after IP implantation of rubber drain and increased with time. The increased gut oxygen extraction implies that the gut is susceptible to IP inflammatory stimulation, and the en hanced ileal permeability suggests that the integrity of the gastroint estinal tract is compromised, which might facilitate bacterial translo cation.