EFFECT OF NITROGEN-SPARING, INTRAVENOUSLY ADMINISTERED FLUIDS ON POST-OPERATIVE BODY-COMPOSITION

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 85  (5) , 496-503
Abstract
The postoperative protein-sparing effect of i.v. administered amino acids was assessed quantitatively by measuring body composition by multiple isotope dilution. Body composition was determined in 2 groups of 19 patients each, before and on the 5th day following a major abdominal operation. One group of patients received all of their required fluids and electrolytes as a 5% glucose solution. The 2nd group received an isocaloric infusion of protein as a 5% casein hydrolysate solution. The preoperative body composition of both groups was normal. On the 5th day after operation, the mean body wt had decreased by 2.6 .+-. 0.6 kg in the glucose group and by 2.0 .+-. 0.5 kg in the protein group. In the patients receiving glucose, this postoperative wt loss was due to a decrease in both body fat and the lean body mass. The mean body cell mass, which represents the total mass of living, functioning cells, decreased from 23.1 .+-. 1.5 to 19.9 .+-. 1.4 kg (P < 0.001), while the extracellular mass increased from 24.9 .+-. 0.9 to 27.3 .+-. 0.9 kg (P < 0.001). In the patients receiving protein, the loss of body wt resulted entirely from a loss of body fat, while the body cell mass and the extracellular mass both remained normal. Protein sparing was achieved by the postoperative infusion of protein.