Abstract
Gastrointestinal tract surgeries cause profound changes in the structure of the intestinal microbiota, which can lead to imbalances in the composition and activity of resident microorganisms. The role of probiotics in the modulation of the microbiota in patients undergoing gastrointestinal tract surgeries and, consequently, in surgical outcomes has been investigated. Probiotics are believed to reduce complication rates, including surgical site infection, anastomotic leakage, exacerbated inflammatory response, and secondary outcomes, such as length of hospital stay and need for ventilatory support. However, there are still gaps in the literature regarding the period of use, doses, and specific strains. In this chapter, we bring together some of the available evidence on the use of probiotics in gastrointestinal surgery and the rationale for their use.
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