Is a postoperative increase in intestinal permeability a risk factor for the development of multiorgan failure?

Background and Methods: The clinical course after major abdominal surgery w as correlated with changes of intestinal barrier function, measured with no n-absorbable sugars, with bacterial translocation, detected by serum-endoto xin, and with activation of proinflammatory cytokines, measured by I16 and I18 in 36 patients. Results: Patients (n = 26) with an uncomplicated course had a transient inc rease in these parameters, whereas patients (n = 10) with high APACHE II (> 10) and multiorgan failure scores (Goris > 5) had persistantly high values . Concluison: The disruption of barrier function appears to be a pathogenetic factor of postoperative SIRS/MODS.