Postoperative Parenteral Hyperalimentation and Wound Healing in Oncological Surgery.

Abstract

Two groups of patients (4 each) were treated by parenteral infusions during the first five postoperative days after abdominoperineal resection of rectum according to the following schedules: Group I: 12.4 Cal/kg/day + 0.044 gm. N/kg/day; Group II: 52.7 Cal/kg/day + 0.235 gm. N/kg/day. The nitrogen balance was studied and collagenogenesis evaluated by chromatographic determination of OH-lysine in the biopsies of the healing tissue carried out on the 2°, 3°, 4°, 5°, 6°, 9°, 12°, and 15° postoperative day. It was noted that in Group II of patients, the nitrogen balance was better and that there was more collagen in the biopsies of the healing tissue than in Group I. Parenteral postoperative hyperalimentation not only spares endogenous nitrogen but may help healing.