Probiotics or Synbiotics for Preventing Postoperative Infection in Hepatopancreatobiliary Cancer Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Objective

Postoperative infection of hepatopancreatobiliary cancer (HPBC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Probiotics and synbiotics are potential prevention strategies, but evidence on the efficacy of probiotics or synbiotics in the prevention of postoperative infection for HPBC remains controversial. This study aimed to define the impact of probiotics or synbiotics on the incidence of postoperative infection in HPBC patients.

Methods

A systematic search of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases was conducted from inception to February 2, 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of probiotics or synbiotics in HPBC. Data were pooled and expressed as the risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals.

Results

Eight RCTs involving 445 participants were included. Supplementation with probiotics or synbiotics significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative infection (RR 0.55) in HPBC patients, and both probiotics (RR 0.68) and synbiotics (RR 0.41) were effective in reducing the incidence of postoperative infection. In addition, probiotics or synbiotics can reduce duration of antibiotic use (MD −3.52) and length of hospital stay (MD −4.21).

Conclusion

Probiotics or synbiotics are effective strategies for the prevention of postoperative infection in HPBC patients.

Acknowledgments

Zhengqiang Wei, Wang Huang, Linyu Zhang and Gang Tang substantial contributions to conception and designed the data; Gang Tang and Linyu Zhang drafted the article critically for important intellectual content; and Zhengqiang Wei approval of the version to be published.

Disclosure Statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Funding

The authors received no funding support for this literature review, authorship, and publication of this article.