Bacterial translocation, intestinal morphology, and enzyme activities after ileal ischemia in newborn piglets

Intestinal ischemia was created after a limited laparotomy by ligation of the terminal mesenteric vessels in the last 10 cm of distal ileum in 2-day-old piglets. Five groups (each n = 15) were studied: 1 (unoperated control group, killed on day 4), 2 (sham control with laparotomy, killed on day 4), 3 (ischemia, killed on day 4), 4 (ischemia, killed on day 9), and 5 (unoperated control on day 9, not killed). All animals in groups 1, 2 and 5 survived. Two animals in group 3 and 1 in group 4 died (peritonitis and distal ileal perforation). In animals killed on day 9, less weight gain was observed in group 4 compared to the unoperated controls. Macroscopically, no alteration was found at laparotomy in the animals in group 1, whereas in group 2, 1 animal showed beginning peritonitis and another some degree of peritoneal adhesions in group 3, 1 piglet had an intestinal perforation and 4 had intestinal distention above the ischemic loop. In group 4, 7 animals had dilatation of the upper loops, 4 a complete stricture, and 3 peritonitis with complete necrosis of the distal ileum. Microscopic examination revealed severe lesions of the ischemic area in groups 3 and 4 and mild lesions of the upper loop. The kidney was contaminated by translocation of gram-positive cocci in 36% of cases in group 2. Germ carriage for staphylococci was estimated at 80% in the terminal ileum of animals in group 3 versus 8.3% in group 2. In groups 3 and 4, the translocation rate was 30% in the kidney and 40% in the liver. Low disaccharidase activities were found in ischemic areas in groups 3 and 4, with no difference in activity in the upper loops.