Volta et al. Journal of Inflammation 2013, 10:29 http://www.journal-inflammation.com/content/10/1/29
RESEARCH
Open Access
Effects of two different strategies of fluid administration on inflammatory mediators, plasma electrolytes and acid/base disorders in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: a randomized double blind study Carlo Alberto Volta1*, Alessandro Trentini2, Lucia Farabegoli1, Maria Cristina Manfrinato2, Valentina Alvisi1, Franco Dallocchio2, Elisabetta Marangoni1, Raffaele Alvisi1 and Tiziana Bellini2
Abstract Background: Administration of normal saline might increase circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and may cause variation of plasmatic electrolytic and hyperchloremic acidosis, which in turn can impair renal function. Hence the use of balanced solutions could influence the inflammatory cascade triggered by the surgical procedures, the plasmatic electrolyte concentration, the acid–base equilibrium, and the renal function. Methods: This is a double blind randomized trial. Forty patients undergoing major abdominal surgery (bowel cancer) were allocated in two groups, the balanced solution (BS) group in which the fluids administered were balanced solutions (colloids and crystalloids); and the unbalanced solution (UBS) group in which the fluids administered were unbalanced solutions (colloids and crystalloids). Measurements were performed after anaesthesia induction (T0), at the end of surgery (T1), within 2 h after surgery (T2) and 24 h after the beginning of surgery (T3). The following data were collected: 1) active matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-1), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10; 2) blood gases variables; 3) electrolytes, albumin, total serum protein and the strong ion difference; 4) neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) from urinary sample. Results: The BS group exhibited higher circulating level of IL-10 and TIMP-1 and lower level of active MMP-9. The UBS group experienced hypercloremia, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, worse acid–base equilibrium and higher level of NGAL. Conclusions: The use of balanced solutions was responsible of less alteration of plasmatic electrolytes, acid–base equilibrium, kidney function and it might be associated with an early anti-inflammatory mechanisms triggering. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (Ref: NCT01320891). Keywords: Balanced solutions, Anti-inflammatory mechanisms, Plasmatic electrolytes, pH, Kidney function
* Correspondence:
[email protected] 1 Department of Surgical, Anaesthesiological and Radiological Science, Section of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, S. Anna Hospital, University of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro n. 8-44124 Cona, Ferrara, Italy Full list of author information is available at the end of the article © 2013 Volta et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Volta et al. Journal of Inflammation 2013, 10:29 http://www.journal-inflammation.com/content/10/1/29
Background Fluid therapy plays a fundamental role in the management of patients undergoing major surgery. Hypovolemia can cause organ dysfunction unless an adequate fluid resuscitation volume is provided. However, it is not only a question of the quantity of fluids administered, quality must also play an equally fundamental role. Administration of 0.9% saline can be harmful because it can cause hyperosmolar states [1] and hyperchloremic acidosis [2-5]. Nevertheless, little is known about the possible variation of plasmatic levels of other electrolytes than Na+ and Cl-, induced by normal saline administration. This because both acidosis and the dilution of plasma due to a administration of solutions free of Ca2+ and Mg2+ might influence their plasmatic concentration. Furthermore, administration of normal saline decreased glomerular filtration rate and urinary output [4,6]. Of note, normal saline administration can lead to oedema in the gastrointestinal tract, an increase in abdominal pressure, and reduced renal perfusion [7,8]. Finally, when compared with balanced solutions, administration of normal saline increases the circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines in septic shock [9]. Hence it can hypothesised that the use of balanced solutions can influence the inflammatory cascade triggered by the surgical procedures. This should be particularly relevant during major intestinal surgery since such surgery is associated with more inflammatory response than nonintestinal minor surgery [10]. The pro-inflammatory cytokines trigger the release of various substances. A significant role is played here by matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), since its over-production is associated with anastomotic leakage after bowel surgery [11]. Hence the aim of our study was to verify if the use of balanced solutions can influence 1) the inflammatory cascade and specifically the activity of MMP-9 and its natural inhibitor (TIMP-1); 2) the electrolytes plasmatic levels, acid – base equilibrium and renal function. Methods The study was approved by the ethics committee of the S. Anna University Hospital, Ferrara, Italy (Ref: 28/1/10) and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (Ref: NCT01320891). Informed consent was obtained from all subject prior to the randomization. Participants
This was a double blind randomized trial. Eligible patients were those aged 18 years or older, undergoing abdominal surgery for bowel cancer. Exclusion criteria were: 1) emergency surgery for bowel punch or intestinal occlusion; 2) cardiac failure (New York Heart Association class III or IV); 3) kidney dysfunction (serum creatinine > 200 μmol/L); 4) preoperative anemia (hemoglobin
