Probiotics shorten hospital stay and improve gut recovery after open gastrectomy for gastric cancer

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.