OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of preoperative use of viable Bifidobacterium supplement on the intestinal flora, immune status, inflammatory response and prognosis of patients undergoing colorectal cancer resection.

METHODSSixty patients with colorectal cancer were randomized into treatment group (n=30) and control group (n=30). Patients in the treatment group received oral viable Bifidobacterium with routine enteral nutrition and patients in the control group received routine enteral nutrition alone. The intestinal flora of stool was analyzed and stool SIgA, serum IgG, IgM, IgA, IL-6, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were detected.

RESULTSPostoperative Bifidobacterium/E.coli (B/E) ratio in the treatment group decreased significantly as compared to the preoperative ratio (2.01+/-0.36 vs 26.53+/-4.22, P<0.05). However, the ratios remained above one. Both preoperative and postoperative B/E ratios in the control group (0.72+/-0.14, 0.02+/-0.06) were significantly lower than those in the treatment group (P<0.05). Indexes of immunity and inflammation were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). At day 9 after operation, stool SIgA was higher in the treatment group, while serum IgG, IgM, IgA, IL-6, CRP in the treatment group were lower (P<0.05). Postoperative septic complications in the treatment group was less than that in the control group (P<0.05), but other complications and hospital stay were comparable.

CONCLUSIONSIn patients with colorectal cancer, supplementation of viable Bifidobacterium before surgery can improve bacterial dysbiosis and immunity, and can reconstruct the balance of intestinal flora, and reduce infection complication of surgery.