Oral Antibiotic Prophylaxis Can Influence the Inflammatory Response in Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Results of a Randomized Clinical Study

Abstract

The purpose of this prospective, randomized study was to evaluate the effect of oral ofloxacin prophylaxis on endotoxin/cytokine release in aortic aneurysm repair, in 25 patients with infrarenal aortic aneurysm at a University hospital. Outcome parameters included complications after operation; endotoxin and endotoxin neutralizing capacity, IL-6, procalciton and neopterin. All patients had the standard perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (2 g cefotiam). 12 patients randomly received oral ofloxacin prophylaxis (group 1) the day before the operation (200 mg/2x12h); 13 patients were controls (group 2). Data were analyzed by chi-square analysis, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon analysis. Ofloxacin had no effect on the occurrence of complications or on the peripheral endotoxin levels. Ofloxacin-treated patients showed increased endotoxin neutralizing capacity (ENC) 30 min after clamping compared to controls (15.8±15 vs 262.8±709 p=0.005) and increased IL-6 levels preoperatively and 30 min after clamping. Patients with complications had significantly higher IL-6 levels early during the operation and postoperatively (30 min after clamping: 36.4±15.1 vs 18.8±11.9 pg/ml p=0.01; 2^nd postoperative day: 768±688 vs 225±322 pg/ml p=0.005). Ofloxacin prophylaxis had no effect on procalcitonin, or neopterin plasma levels. Neither procalcitonin nor neopterin could detect patients with complications IL-6 plasma levels predicted the occurrence of complications in aortic aneurysm repair. Oral ofloxacin prophylaxis may influence the ENC and IL-6 plasma levels but had no effect on complications, endotoxin and other inflammatory mediators.