Enteric bacterial translocation after intraperitoneal implantation of rubber drain pieces

To study the kinetics and mechanisms of bacterial translocation from the gut after intraperitoneal (IP) implantation of prosthetic materials, different sizes of rubber drain pieces were intraperitoneally implanted in the rat, followed by evaluation of ileal mucosal permeability after 2 days and of the occurrence of bacterial translocation and gut oxygen extraction at various time points. Enteric bacteria translocated to mesenteric lymph nodes and disseminated to systemic organs (liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys), the portal vein, and inferior vena cava 2, 4, and 6 h after IP implantation of rubber drain pieces with 10-, 7-, and 3-cm2 areas, respectively, and subsequently to the IP rubber drain piece and the peritoneal cavity on the 2nd postoperative day. The incidence of translocation correlated with the size of the implanted material and time after implantation. The gut oxygen extraction increased significantly after IP implantation of 7- and 10-cm2 rubber drain pieces. The ileal mucosal permeability was enhanced in the groups implanted with 7- and 10-cm2 drain pieces. Thus, bacterial translocation occurs already in the early period after IP implantation of rubber drain and increased with time. The increased gut oxygen extraction implies that the gut is susceptible to IP inflammatory stimulation, and the enhanced ileal permeability suggests that the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract is compromised, which might facilitate bacterial translocation.