ORIGINAL ARTICLE   Open access

Minerva Gastroenterology 2025 March;71(1):7-14

DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5985.24.03701-X

Copyright © 2024 THE AUTHORS

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language: English

Innovative strategies for the rapid restoration of intestinal function in patients undergoing abdominal surgery: use of probiotics. Pilot study of 15 patients

Elisabetta RADICE ¹, Olexii POTAPOV ², Galyna SHABAT ³ ✉, Elisa MARTELLO ⁴, Giorgia MEINERI ⁵, Paolo RISSO ⁶, Francesco DI PIERRO ⁷, Francesco OLANDESE ¹

¹ Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy; ² Surgical Oncology Department, Specialist Hospital (named after Jędrzej Śniadecki in Nowy Sącz), Nowy Sącz, Poland; ³ Unit of General Surgery and Esophagus Center, IRCCS San Donato Polyclinic Hospital, Milan, Italy; ⁴ Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; ⁵ Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; ⁶ Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; ⁷ Department of Medicine and Technological Innovation, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

BACKGROUND: The clinical value of probiotics in patients undergoing abdominal surgery, particularly colorectal surgery, remains uncertain despite their well-documented health benefits. This pilot randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the effects of perioperative and postoperative oral administration of two probiotics, Clostridium butyricum CBM588^® and Bifidobacterium longum ES1, on immune function, systemic inflammatory response, postoperative infections, and recovery after colorectal surgery.
METHODS: Fifteen adult patients underwent colorectal resection, with two groups receiving probiotics and one acting as a control. Blood and fecal samples were collected, and clinical parameters were assessed.
RESULTS: Results showed the safety of probiotics, resistance to antibiotics and gastric acid, and potential benefits in reducing postoperative infections and intestinal inflammation.
CONCLUSIONS: Future trials should provide more conclusive evidence on the efficacy and safety of perioperative probiotic administration in colorectal surgery, aiming for improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.

KEY WORDS: Probiotics; Intestines; Digestive system surgical procedures; Neoplasms