Mesenteric lymphadenectomy prevents postburn systemic spread of translocated bacteria
R. Tokyay, S. T. Zeigler, H. M. Loick, J. P. Heggers, P. De la Garza, D. L. Traber and D. N. Herndon
Shriners Burns Institute, Galveston, TX.
We investigated the role of mesenteric lymph nodes in postburn systemic
spread of intestinal bacteria. Group 1 minipigs (n=8) had a 40%
third-degree burn. Group 2 minipigs (n=7) had the same burn injury, but
their mesenteric lymph nodes were removed immediately after burn. Group 3
minipigs (n=8) had sham burn, and group 4 minipigs (n=6) had mesenteric
lymph node removal under anesthesia. All minipigs were killed at 48 hours,
and tissues were harvested for bacteriological culture. Group 1 showed a
large number of positive cultures from several of the systemic organs.
Group 2 demonstrated no positive cultures in any of the tissues except the
peritoneal fluid. These data suggest that bacterial translocation occurs
mainly via mesenteric lymphatics to mesenteric lymph nodes and, thence,
into other systemic tissue. After major burns, mesenteric lymph nodes may
become an additional focus of infection.
