Perioperative Endotoxin Leakage From The Gastrointestinal Tract Can Be Prevented By Enteral Application Of An Immunoglobulin Enriched Colostral Milk Preparation

There is accumulating evidence that endotoxin originating from the gastrointestinal tract may reach the blood stream and is associated with forthcoming organ dysfunction. 40 patients who underwent major elective gastric (n=12) and pancreatic surgery (n=28) were preoperatively treated with a bovine colostral preparation by enteral application in a controlled, prospective and randomized study. Endotoxin plasma levels which increase peri- and postoperatively were significantly reduced throughout the whole observation period (10 days) in patients receiving the verum treatment. Similarly the endotoxin neutralizing capacity of plasma was significantly increased in that patients group. No differences of the APACHE-II score were observed. Obviously the gut barrier dysfunction which is routinely observed after major surgical procedures can be prevented by preoperative enteral application of a bovine colostral preparation.