Alterations in Intestinal Permeability After Thermal Injury,
Abstract
Alterations in intestinal permeability have been postulated to occur after thermal injury. We evaluated the status of intestinal permeability during the first 2 postburn weeks in 15 subjects by measuring the differential excretion of enterally administered lactulose and mannitol. The mean age and burn size of the patients were 32.7 + or - 3.6 years and 53.3% + or - 5.1% of the total body surface area, respectively. Ten healthy volunteers were also studied. The lactulose mannitol excretion ratio was 0.159 + or - 0.017 for the patients and 0.01 7 -- 0.003 for controls. The increased ratio did not correlate with burn size or postburn day. Patients who developed significant clinical infections during their first 2 postburn weeks had lactulose-mannitol ratios on postburn day 2 that were significantly higher than those of controls and patients who did not develop infections. This suggests a relationship between susceptibility to infection and early alterations in intestinal permeability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA268708
Entities
People
- Laura Pratt
- Ronald Shippee
- Thomas Levoyer
- W. G. Cioffi
- William F. McManus
Organizations
- United States Army Institute of Surgical Research