Hydrogen Saline Lavage Improves Survival in Severe Abdominal Infection
- Authors
- Haruki Sada, Hiroyuki Egi, Kentaro Ide, Hiroyuki Sawada, Yusuke Sumi, Minoru Hattori, Kazuhiro Sentani, Naohide Oue, Wataru Yasui, Hideki Ohdan
- Journal
- Surgery Today
- Year
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00595-021-02271-z
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Acute Peritonitis
- Body System
- Digestive
TL;DR
Washing the inside of the abdomen with hydrogen-rich saline could be a promising treatment to improve survival in severe abdominal infections by reducing organ damage and inflammation.
Key Finding
Peritoneal lavage with hydrogen-rich saline significantly improved survival in rats with acute peritonitis and reduced sepsis-induced organ failure by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death.
Summary
Researchers tested whether rinsing the abdominal cavity with salt water containing dissolved hydrogen gas could help treat acute peritonitis (a life-threatening abdominal infection). In rats with induced peritonitis, this hydrogen-rich saline treatment improved survival and reduced organ damage by decreasing harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species, reducing inflammation, and preventing cell death. A follow-up test in pigs showed the procedure appeared safe and practical.
Practical Takeaway
This early-stage research in animals suggests hydrogen-rich saline rinsing of the abdomen may help treat severe peritonitis, but human studies are needed before any clinical use. The findings are limited to animal models and do not yet indicate whether this approach would work or be safe in people with peritonitis.
Abstract
Purpose: Acute peritonitis has remained a fatal disease despite of recent advances in care and treatment, including antibiotic and anticoagulant treatments. The cause of death is mostly sepsis-induced multiple organ failure. Oxidative stress can play an important role in this situation, but antioxidant therapy to capture any excessive reactive oxygen species has not yet been fully established. Methods: Two experiments were performed. In the first experiment, we confirmed the effects of peritoneal lavage with hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) after a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) operation in rats. In the second experiment, the changes in the hemodynamic state following this procedure were observed in a porcine model of abdominal sepsis to evaluate its safety and utility. Results: Peritoneal lavage with HRS significantly improved the survival after CLP in rats, and it ameliorated the levels of sepsis-induced organ failure. Moreover, it showed anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis as well as antioxidant effects. The second experiment demonstrated the potential safety and feasibility of this procedure in a large animal model. Conclusion: This procedure can improve survival after sepsis through mitigating the sepsis-induced organ failure by inhibiting oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory pathways. Peritoneal lavage with HRS may therefore be an effective, safe, and practical therapy for patients with acute peritonitis.