effect of intravenous dextran 70 on enteric bacterial translocation after partial hepatectomy in rats

This controlled experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effect of partial hepatectomy on enteric bacterial translocation in rats and the preventive action of dextran 70. Sixty rats were divided into three equal groups each of twenty animals. Animals in the first group [GI, n=20] were subjected to Sham operation, while 70% hepatectomy was done in the second group [GII, n=20] and third group [GIII, n=20] thirty minutes after saline and dextran 70 administration respectively. In each group, relaparotomy was done in 10 animals two hours and 12 hours postoperatively respectively during which inferior venacava [IVC] blood sample, intestine, mesenteric lymph nodes [MLN] and liver specimens were obtained for bacteriological examination. Detection of bacterial DNA in the IVC blood samples was also done using PCR- based technique. The results of this study revealed that partial hepatectomy induces significant intestinal bacterial overgrowth 2 hours [P <0.01] and 12 hours [P<0.001] postoperatively compared to Sham group. Also, bacterial translocation to MLN, liver and blood was noticed after partial hepatectomy compared to negative cultures in Sham operation. Dextran 70 injection significantly diminished enteric bacterial growth and translocation in partially hepatectomized rats .In conclusion, partial liver resection induces enteric bacterial translocation in rats that could be prevented by IV dextran 70 administration