INFLUENCE OF ENTERAL NUTRITION-INDUCED SPLANCHNIC HYPEREMIA ON THE SEPTIC ORIGIN OF SPLANCHNIC ISCHEMIA

The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate whether ente ral nutrition-induced postprandial intestinal hyperemia has a benefici al effect on the splanchnic ischemia due to sepsis, Fourteen dogs, aft er exposure to Escherichia coli endotoxin via portal vein administrati on were grouped according to whether they were fed enterally via a jej unostomy or given a placebo, Systemic hemodynamics; portal vein, hepat ic, and superior mesenteric artery blood how; hepatic and intestinal m icrocirculation; hepatic tissue PO2; intestinal pHi; and hepatic energ y charge were assessed before, during, and after endotoxin infusion as well as during and after enteral or placebo Feeding. All splanchnic h emodynamic parameters revealed a statistically significant decline (p = 0.001) during the endotoxin shock period relative to the baseline, A fter enteral feeding all parameters exhibited a statistically signific ant increase (p = 0.001) relative to the placebo group, The results of this study led us to suggest that enteral nutrition reverses the lipo polysaccharide infusion-induced splanchnic ischemia.