[Influence of ileocecal valve resection on nutrient absorption in the pig (author's transl)]

The report deals with how the resection of the ileocaecal union, with or without caecum, and in diets of different fat levels, affects the absorption of various nutrients, the nitrogen balance, and the intestinal aerobic flora, in young pigs during periods of rapid growth. It describes the technical procedure and the results obtained from experiments on digestibility and the nitrogen balance, both in tests carried out in the immediate post-operative period and after four months; it was found that those animals operated on showed a lower protein, fat and gross fibre absorption, as well as a decrease in the percentage of nitrogen retained and efficiently used; in many cases the difference between operated and control animals was statistically significant. In those animals undergoing surgery changes occured in the intestinal aerobic flora: a greater number of germs were found in the jejunum, and a smaller number in the middle and distal ileum. The histological study of the ileocaecal union in these animals showed great similarity to the same area in man. Author attributes changes to the loss of valve and sphincter function in the removed area.