Purpose: Many studies have been published on the beneficial effects of oral carbohydrate solutions (OCS) administered prior to surgery. However, the risk of pulmonary aspiration cannot be excluded in all patients undergoing anesthesia. But, there are few studies on the safety of OCS at lung aspiration.
Methods: Experiments were conducted with mice (Nine- to ten-week-old male BALB/c mice weighted 23-26 g). Lung aspiration was performed by intratracheal administration of OCS and its major constituents, fructose and maltodextrin. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected 3 and 24 h after lung aspiration. The level of Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) were measured in BALF. The total white blood cell, neutrophil counts, wet to dry ratio and histological examination were performed in BALF and lung tissue, respectively, at 24 h after aspiration.
Results: The OCS increased the level of TNF-α, IL-6 and MIP-2 at 3 h and the neutrophil count at 24 h in BALFs, compared to a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group. The increase in IL-6 level induced by OCS was maintained for 24 h. The OCS also increased the number of white blood cells and the percentage of neutrophils in BALFs. Compared to fructose, maltodextrin significantly increased the production of MIP-2 in BALFs. OCS and maltodextrin also increased neutrophil recruitment in lung tissue.
Conclusion: Aspiration of OCS may cause inflammation of the lungs. The preoperative use of OCS may require caution under specific clinical conditions, such as patients at risk of lung aspiration.
Keywords: Aspiration pneumonia; Fructose; Maltodextrin; Oral carbohydrate solution; Preoperative fasting.