OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of perioperative intestinal microecological treatment on postoperative complications and gastrointestinal function in patients with refractory functional constipation by nonrandomized controlled trial.

METHODSA total of 198 patients with refractory functional constipation who underwent Jinling procedure in our department from 2014 to 2015 were prospectively enrolled, and were divided into conventional treatment group (n=100, routine intestinal preparation was used before operation; probiotics and prebiotics were applied if diarrhea or abdominal distention occurred after operation) and microecological treatment group (n=98, routine perioperative management was applied; probiotics, prebiotics and enteral nutrition were administered since 2 weeks before operation; probiotics and prebiotics were given again when exhaust and defecation recovered after operation). The general clinical data, postoperative complications, gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI), Wexner constipation score, the incidence of abdominal distension and diarrhea during follow-up were collected.

RESULTSThe baseline information was not significantly different between two groups (all P>0.05) as well as the morbidity of postoperative complication [27.6% (27/98) vs 37.0% (37/100), P=0.155]. Compared with conventional treatment group, microecological treatment group had obviously lower incidence of enteritis [2.0%(2/98) vs. 9.0% (9/100), P=0.034] and shorter postoperative hospital stay [(7.2±3.1) d vs. (9.8±3.6) d, P=0.040]. The incidences of diarrhea and abdominal distension in microecological treatment group were obviously lower than those in conventional treatment group [30.9% (29/94) vs. 46.9% (45/96), P=0.024; 44.7%(42/94) vs. 60.4%(58/96), P=0.030] at postoperative 1-month. Compared with conventional treatment group, microecological treatment group had obviously higher GIQLI (52.36 vs. 43.55, P=0.026) at postoperative 1-month. At postoperative 12-month, the incidences of diarrhea and abdominal distension decreased obviously in both two groups but without significant differences [diarrhea: 3.4% (3/89) vs. 3.3%(3/90), P=0.989; abdominal distention: 6.7% (6/89) vs. 5.6% (5/90), P=0.742]. GIQLI and Wexner score were improved but without significant differences as well (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONPerioperative intestinal microecological treatment can obviously reduce the incidences of postoperative enteritis, early abdominal distension and early diarrhea, improve the postoperative early GIQLI, and shorten postoperative hospital stay.