The Impact of Fat Rich Enteral Feeding on the Histopathological Changes of Liver in Third Degree Burns: An Experimental Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the histo-pathological changes in the liver secondary to severe burns and to investigate the effects of a fat-rich diet during the initial 7 days post burn in a rat model. MATERIALS & METHODS: We randomly assigned 21 Wistar-albino rats into 3 groups: sham group, burn + standard-diet group, and burn + fatty-diet group. A full-thickness burn wound was induced on the dorsa of the animals in both burn groups. Seven days after sham procedures/burn induction, hepatic tissues were examined under light microscopy; hepatocyte size, portal-triad size, and binuclear hepatocyte numbers were calculated. RESULTS: The mean number of binuclear hepatocytes was higher in burn + standard-diet group than in the sham group. Mean hepatocyte area and mean portal-triad area were narrower in the burn + standard-diet group compared with the sham group (P < .05). Mean hepatocyte area and mean portal-triad area in the burn + fatty-diet group were closer to those shown in the sham animals, and binuclear hepatocytes number in the burn + fatty diet group was slightly higher than in the burn + standard diet group(P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Liver damage was mildly influenced by fat-rich enteral feeding in the 7 days postburn. Further studies must focus on dynamic feeding protocols designed according to the phases involved in the burn trauma instead of seeking a stable suitable protocol.