Risk of infection after iatrogenic perforation of the gut wall? Evaluation of preventive strategies in a randomized controlled animal trial.
Interventional endoscopies entail a risk of infection secondary to perforation of the luminal wall. Thereby, bacteria may be introduced into the sterile environment of the peritoneal cavity (PC). Limited data are available regarding the efficacy of prophylactic anti-infective treatments. The aim of the study was to examine the efficacy/safety of anti-infective means in the prevention of infection by interventional endoscopies in a randomized controlled animal trial.



Forty pigs were randomized to: 1: control; 2: oral lavage; 3: gastric lavage; 4: oral/gastric lavage; 5: i.m. antibiotics. Lavage was performed with Octenisept prior to the operation. After gastric wall perforation, peritoneoscopy was performed. Before the procedure, after closure and prior to autopsy, intraabdominal lavage for bacterial culture was taken using mini-laparoscopy. At autopsy, macroscopic appearance of the PC was scored. Lavage fluids were grown to identify/quantify bacterial load. Concentration of intraperitoneal bacteria at autopsy was defined as main outcome parameter.



No major complications occurred in any of the procedures. Bacterial load of the PC at autopsy was significantly reduced with antibiotics compared to all other groups, whereas it did not differ between the lavage groups and control. Macroscopic scoring of the PC showed significant lower rate of intraabdominal abscesses in the antibiotic group compared to the lavage groups and control (p < 0.01).



Only antibiotic prophylaxis is effective for the prevention of infection after iatrogenic perforation of the gastrointestinal wall. There was no difference between any form of lavage and the control group. Further studies in humans are required to prove these animal data.
Interdisciplinary Endoscopy and Experimental Endoscopy Unit, Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany. mark.ellrichmann@uksh.de.
Mark
M
Ellrichmann
Interdisciplinary Endoscopy and Experimental Endoscopy Unit, Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
Shantiswaroop
S
Dhar
Institute for Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), Mariensee, Germany.
Klaus-Gerd
KG
Hadeler
Department of Pathology, University Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
Frauke
F
Seehusen
Department of Surgery, Homerton University Hospital, London, UK.
Tamzin
T
Cuming
Institute for Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), Mariensee, Germany.
Andrea T
AT
Feßler
Institute for Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), Mariensee, Germany.
Heiner
H
Niemann
Institute for Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), Mariensee, Germany.
Stefan
S
Schwarz
Interdisciplinary Endoscopy and Experimental Endoscopy Unit, Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
Annette
A
Fritscher-Ravens
D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery*; D013552:Swine; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
Anti-infective prophylaxis; Complications; Interventional endoscopy; Safety