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Effects of Glutamine Infusion on Colonic Anastomotic Strength in the Rat
Author(s) -
Mccauley Rosalie,
Platell C.,
Hall J.,
Mcculloch R.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/0148607191015004437
Subject(s) - glutamine , anastomosis , medicine , gastroenterology , chemistry , surgery , biochemistry , amino acid
Glutamine is one of the primary respiratory fuels of the colon. However, it is not included in commercial preparations of parenteral nutrients because of its short shelf life. It has been suggested that colonic atrophy induced by conventional parenteral nutrition can be reversed by the intravenous infusion of fresh solutions of glutamine. This study evaluated the hypothesis that glutamine‐enriched parenteral nutrition would enhance the strength of a standard colonic anastomosis in undernourished rats. After surgery, the rats were randomized to receive 6 days of postoperative support with either rat chow, conventional parenteral nutrition, or parenteral nutrition containing 1.2% glutamine. Measurement of colonic bursting tension failed to demonstrate any significant differences between the groups under study. In conclusion, the administration of 1.2% glutamine‐enriched parenteral nutrition failed to influence the healing of colonic anastomoses in undernourished rats. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 15:437–439, 1991)