[Arterial ketone body ratio and its modification by PGE1 in elderly patients during gastrectomy]

We evaluated the change in arterial ketone body ratio (AKBR), which is a parameter to indicate the liver cells, during gastrectomy, and effect of PGE1 on its change in the elderly patients, compared with the younger patients. Twenty patients studied were elderly (above 65 years) and twenty were younger (below 60 years). PGE1 was administered in 10 elderly and 10 younger patients, and the remainders did not receive PGE1. Decrease in AKBR during the resection of stomach and immediate increase in AKBR after the resection of stomach were observed in younger patients. On the other hand, prolonged decrease in AKBR after the resection of stomach was observed in elderly patients. Administration of PGE1 accelerated the restoration of AKBR after the resection of the stomach in elderly patients and caused an increase in AKBR during the resection of stomach in younger patients. These findings suggest that hepatic functional capacity in elderly patients is less than that in younger patients, and that administration of PGE1 has a protective effect on liver in both elderly and younger patients.