'Entero-insular axis' and surgical trauma.

To study the optimal means of postoperative energy supply, three glucose loads (5 g, 15 g, 40 g) were given via the enteral or the parenteral route before and immediately after abdominal surgery. Pre- and post-operatively, glucose and insulin concentrations were strongly dose-related after both kinds of administration. But the postoperative insulin concentrations were higher than the preoperative ones. Likewise, in both test situations the 'insulinogenic index' was significantly higher postoperatively than preoperatively. After the enteral glucose load, however, the index was 3 to 10 times higher than after the parenteral one. According to these results, even in the early postoperative period the enteral route of glucose administration is not only feasible but seems also to be superior to the parenteral one.