The effects of elemental diet following ileo-endorectal pull-through in rats

Total colectomy, mucosal proctectomy and ileo-endorectal pull-through (IEP) have been carried out mostly in dogs, because of high mortality after IEP in rats. This report evaluates the effects of elemental diet on bodily metabolism and survival following IEP in the rat. Survival at 4 weeks was 100% in the sham operated group used as controls, 80% in IEP group given laboratory food + 10% Vivonex ten (group 2), 30% in IEP group given food + 1/2 saline (group 3), and only 10% in IEP group given food + water (group 1). The serum Na, Cl, HCO3 were significantly lower from day 3-7 to day 28 in the group 1. On the contrary, both serum K and osmolality were extremely elevated in the group 1. The total protein level also increased gradually in the group 1 due to extracellular fluid loss. Groups 2 and 3 maintained bodily metabolism related to water and electrolytes well. Our data support the suggestion that severe water and electrolytes imbalance may occur following total colectomy. A supplementary elemental diet prevents water and electrolyte depletion and improves survival following total colectomy and IEP in the rat.