Probiotics and Recovery From Gastrointestinal Surgery - 2

Effect of Perioperative Probiotics on Clinical Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Operation in Community Settings - 2

This prospective randomized trial is designed to test a pragmatic simple intervention in a community hospital. The trial will test the hypothesis whether patient recovery after a major elective abdominal operation can be improved and/or accelerated with postoperative use of probiotics.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged ≥18 years undergoing elective major abdominal operation
• Functional GI tract expected after operation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current episode of acute necrotizing pancreatitis as defined by surgeon
• Palliative decompressive GI tube
• Life expectancy ≤ 6 months
• Systemic immune-mediated disease active requiring systemic therapy:
• Prednisone ≥20 mg QD
• IV immunoglobulins
• Anti-rejection medication
• Presence of functional transplanted organ
• Systemic collagen-related disease treated with immunomodulating agents, including rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, scleroderma, etc.
• Topical chemotherapy or corticosteroids, and chemotherapy applied during operation are allowed
• Patient taking probiotics, synbiotics, or cobiotics as part of their lifestyle
• Need for full systemic anticoagulation postoperatively.