This study looked at whether probiotics, given for 10 days starting the day after open surgery for gastric cancer, could help recovery. It was a small, single-center randomized trial with 42 patients, half receiving probiotics and half a placebo. The main finding was that the probiotic group had a shorter hospital stay and earlier return of gut function, such as passing gas and stools, and starting an oral diet. However, there were no significant differences in inflammatory markers, immune markers, nutritional status, or postoperative complications between the groups. Safety concerns were not reported, and the study did not track adverse events. The main reason to be careful is that this is a small, single-center trial, so the results may not apply to other hospitals or patient groups. Readers should see this as early, promising evidence that probiotics might help recovery after this specific surgery, but more research is needed before changing practice.
Probiotics shorten hospital stay and improve gut recovery after open gastrectomy for gastric cancerProbiotics may shorten hospital stay after gastric cancer surgery in small trial
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Key Takeaway
Consider probiotics may shorten stay and accelerate gut recovery after gastrectomy, but evidence is small and does not show benefits for complications or markers.
In a single-centre, prospective randomized controlled trial, 42 patients undergoing open gastrectomy for gastric cancer received probiotics (n=22) or placebo (n=20) for 10 days starting on postoperative day 1. The primary outcome was length of hospital stay (LOHS), with secondary outcomes including gastrointestinal recovery, inflammatory and immune markers, nutritional status, and postoperative complications over 30 days.
Median LOHS was shorter in the probiotic group than in the placebo group (9 days vs. 12 days; p<0.05). Time to first passage of flatus was earlier (2.6 days vs. 4.3 days; p<0.05), time to first passage of stools was earlier (3.6 days vs. 5.7 days; p<0.05), and oral diet resumption occurred earlier (3.6 days vs. 5.7 days; p<0.05).
No significant differences were observed for inflammatory markers (TLC, IL-6, TNF-α; p>0.05), immune markers (IgA; p>0.05), nutritional status (albumin, haemoglobin; p>0.05), or postoperative complications (p>0.05). Safety and tolerability were not reported.
Limitations include a small sample size (n=42), single-centre design, and lack of reported safety data. The study does not show that probiotics reduce complications or improve inflammatory, immune, or nutritional markers. Given these constraints, results may not generalize, and probiotics should be viewed as a potential adjunct to enhance gastrointestinal recovery rather than a definitive therapy.
What this means for you:
A small trial suggests probiotics may shorten hospital stay after gastric cancer surgery, but more research is needed. More on Cancer
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View Original Abstract ↓
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Gut dysbiosis contributes to postoperative complications and worsens the inflammatory and immune dysfunction in gastric cancer (GC) patients. Probiotics may mitigate these effects by modulating gut microbiota. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of probiotics on the length of hospital stay, other post-operative clinical outcomes, nutritional status, inflammatory and immune markers in patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
METHODS: This was a single-centred, prospective, double blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Participants were patients who underwent open gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Participants were randomized to receive probiotics or placebo for 10 days starting on postoperative day (POD) 1. Blood samples were collected preoperatively and POD 10 to assess haemoglobin, total counts, albumin, IL6, TNFα, and IgA. Clinical outcomes including time to first flatus, first passage of stools, oral diet resumption and length of hospital stay (LOHS). Postoperative complications were monitored for 30 days and classified using the Clavien-Dindo system.
RESULTS: Of 42 participants (22 probiotic, 20 placebo), baseline characteristics were comparable. The probiotic group had a significantly shorter median LOHS (9 vs. 12 days, p<0.05), earlier time to first passage of flatus (2.6 vs. 4.3 days, p<0.05), earlier time to first passage of stools (3.6 vs. 5.7 days, p<0.05), and oral diet resumption (3.6 vs. 5.7 days, p<0.05). No significant differences were observed in inflammatory markers (TLC, IL-6, TNF-α), immune markers (IgA), nutritional status (albumin, haemoglobin), or postoperative complications (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION: Postoperative probiotic supplementation reduced LOHS and improved gastrointestinal recovery in GC patients undergoing gastrectomy, but did not significantly affect inflammatory, immune, or nutritional markers.
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