[The pre- and postoperative nutritive maintenance of rats with enterostomata]

The repercussion of nutrition on the food behaviour, bowel function and body mass development of rats with ileostomata and colostomata has been studied during the perioperative phase. An and libitum feeding until immediately before the operation has been found to be beneficial. The postoperative dietetic regimen is of decisive importance to the survival of the animals operated on. The best postoperative development was achieved in ileostomized rats by a diet rich in nutrients and energy, and low n bulkage. In rats with colostomata, the success of the operation may be impaired by a constipation in the intestinal region before the stoma, which frequently leads to occlusion. A spontaneous evacuation of chyme was induced in these animals only by a high-lactose and low-protein diet. It is recommended to keep the experimental animals on pre- and postoperative diets which take into account the location of the respective enterostoma.