Abstract

 


Objectives: Candida albicans is being isolated with increasing frequency during intraabdominal infection in patients who are operated for mechanical intestinal obstruction (MIO). The value of fluconazole prophylaxis and documented altered patterns of nitric oxide (NO) and (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) TBARS production in response to Candida albicans is a subject of discussion.

Material and Methods: Between June 2003 and December 2004, 52 patients with MIO requiring a surgical treatment were included in this study. In this prospective, randomized (placebo-controlled), and double-blind clinical trial, we investigated the frequency and clinical significance of fungal translocation and the effect of a single dose of fluconazole (400 mg) prophylaxis  administered with routine antibacterial therapy. NO and TBARS levels were determined in blood samples spectrophotometrically preoperatively; on postoperative 2nd, 6th and 24th hours in order to investigate their roles in fungal translocation.

Results: NO levels were significantly high in patients with MIO due to malignant causes who received a single dose of fluconazole, two hours after the operation (p