Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 12, 2026
Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
A pilot study of Bifidobacterium breve in neonates undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease
Takako Umenai1,2, Nobuaki Shime2,3, Takashi Asahara4
1Department of Anesthesiology, Shimada Hospital, Osaka 583-0875, Japan.
Insights
Perioperative probiotics, including Bifidobacterium breve, are safe for neonates undergoing heart surgery. This intervention positively modulated the gut microbiota, reducing harmful bacteria and increasing beneficial ones, though clinical outcome effects require further study.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal surgery
- Probiotics
- Intestinal microbiota
Background:
- Probiotics are widely used in surgical patients, but data in pediatric cardiac surgery are limited.
- Investigated the safety and effects of Bifidobacterium breve on intestinal microbiota in neonates undergoing congenital heart disease surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the safety and impact of Bifidobacterium breve (BBG-01) on the intestinal microbiota of neonates undergoing heart surgery.
- To evaluate potential clinical benefits in the perioperative period.
Main Methods:
- Pilot, randomized, single-center study in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
- Twenty-one neonates were randomized: Group A (n=10) received enteral BBG-01 (3x10^9 CFU/day) 1 week pre- to 1 week post-surgery; Group B (n=11) did not.
- Fecal samples analyzed for microbiota composition and organic acids.
Main Results:
- BBG-01 administration increased Bifidobacterium and decreased Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas in fecal samples.
- Postoperative days to PICU discharge and achievement of caloric goals tended to be fewer in the BBG-01 group.
- Total organic and acetic acid concentrations were higher in the BBG-01 group.
- No complications; all neonates discharged alive.
Conclusions:
- Perioperative administration of Bifidobacterium breve is safe for neonates undergoing congenital heart disease surgery.
- The probiotic significantly improved the intestinal environment by modulating microbiota composition.
- Further research is needed to confirm positive effects on clinically significant outcomes.
Background:
Probiotics have currently been widely used in patients undergoing various types of surgeries and improved their clinical outcomes, while data in pediatric cardiac surgery have been lacking. We investigated the safety and effects on the intestinal microbiota of the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve in neonates undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease.
Methods:
This pilot, randomized study was performed in a single-center, university hospital-based pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Twenty-one neonates undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease at >7 days after birth were randomly allocated to two groups: group A received 3 × 10(9) colony-forming units (CFU)/day of enteral B. breve strain Yakult (BBG-01), which was started 1 week before and terminated 1 week after surgery (n = 10), and group B did not receive BBG-01 (n = 11).
Results:
The characteristics of the patients were similar in both groups. The postoperative days until fulfillment of the criteria for discharge from the PICU tended to be fewer in group A (8 [7-8] days) than in group B (9 [8-14] days) (p = 0.10). Likewise, the postoperative days to enteral nutrition or achievement of caloric goal tended to be fewer in group A than in group B. The Bifidobacterium in fecal samples after initiating BBG-01 in group A were significantly higher in number than that in group B. Enterobacteriaceae were significantly fewer in group A than in group B immediately (7.0 [3.9-7.7] vs. 8.5 [8.0-9.1] log10 cells/g) and 1 week (7.7 [7.0-8.1] vs. 9.3 [8.6-9.5] log10 cells/g) after surgery (p < 0.05 for both comparisons). The number of Pseudomonas after 1 week was significantly lower in group A than in group B (p = 0.04). The concentrations of total organic and acetic acids were also significantly higher in group A than in group B. The postoperative course was uncomplicated and all neonates were discharged alive from the PICU.
Conclusions:
The perioperative administration of a probiotic to neonates undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease was safe and significantly improved their intestinal environment. The positive effects of this treatment on clinically significant outcomes remain to be investigated.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
01:30Development of Human Microbiota