Effect of bifid triple viable combined with enteral nutrition support on gastrointestinal function and nutritional indexes in patients with gastric cancer after operation

Abstract

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer (GC) is more common in middle-aged and elderly people. In recent years, the incidence of GC has gradually increased. Radical surgery is the first choice for the treatment of early GC. It has been reported that some patients are prone to having gastrointestinal abnormalities after surgery, which affects gastrointestinal function and nutritional status. Enteral nutrition support is an important part of modern comprehensive treatment. Bifidobacterium is an intestinal probiotic that can improve intestinal barrier function and maintain human health. This study for the first time applied bifid triple viable combined with enteral nutrition to patients after GC surgery to explore its impact on gastrointestinal function and nutritional indexes. AIM To explore the effect of bifid triple viable combined with enteral nutrition support on gastrointestinal function and nutrition indexes in patients with GC after operation. METHODS From September 2017 to September 2019, 107 patients with GC treated at our hospital were selected and divided into a control group (n = 53) and a study group (n = 54) using the random number table method. Both groups underwent a partial gastrectomy. The control group was given enteral nutrition support, and the study group was given bifid triple viable combined with enteral nutrition support. Gastrointestinal function recovery, improvement in quality of life, incidence of adverse reactions, nutritional indexes [pre-albumin (PAB), transferrin (TFN), and albumin (ALB)], intestinal barrier function [diamine oxidase (DAO), endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and D-lactic acid], and intestinal flora before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. RESULTS The times to bowel sound recovery, first defecation, first exhaust, and first meal in the study group were significantly shorter than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of serum PAB, TFN, and ALB in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05); the levels of Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, and digestive Streptococcus were higher in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05); plasma DAO, D-lactic acid, and LPS in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05); the improvement rate of quality of life in the study group (70.37%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (50.94%; P < 0.05); but the incidence of adverse reactions in the study group (9.26%) was not significantly different from that of the control group (11.32%; P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The use of bifid triple viable combined with enteral nutrition support can significantly improve the intestinal flora and intestinal barrier function in patients with GC after surgery, promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function, and improve the nutritional status and quality of life of patients, with good safety.