Related Experiment Videos
Acute pancreatitis and bacterial translocation
L Cicalese1, A Sahai, P Sileri
1Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60612, USA.
Digestive Diseases and Sciences
|May 9, 2001
Summary
Bacterial translocation from the gut causes pancreatic infections in acute pancreatitis (AP). This study confirms the enteric origin of these infections, highlighting risks associated with laparotomy in AP patients.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Infectious complications are severe in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (AP), with high mortality.
- The source of pancreatic infections in AP is often suspected to be enteric but lacks definitive evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate bacterial translocation (BT) in mild and severe AP models.
- To confirm the gastrointestinal origin of microorganisms involved in AP-related infections.
Main Methods:
- Induced mild and severe AP models in animals.
- Assessed BT using organ cultures and fluorescent microspheres to trace microbial origin.
- Examined small bowel morphology and microvasculature changes.
Main Results:
- AP induced significant changes in small bowel morphology.
- Mild AP led to 100% BT to the pancreas; severe AP showed increased BT to pancreas, liver, and spleen.
- Fluorescent microspheres confirmed the enteric origin of translocating bacteria.
Conclusions:
- This study provides evidence for the enteric origin of infectious agents in AP.
- Increased BT risk is observed with laparotomy in AP, potentially explaining associated mortality.