Franko J, Raman S, Krishnan N, et al. - Researchers examined whether short-course oral probiotics are useful and safe among patients undergoing major abdominal operations. They performed a pragmatic randomized trial examining the major complications rates among patients undergoing high-risk gastrointestinal operations in correlation to receiving perioperative probiotics. Randomization of 135 eligible patients to receive either perioperative oral probiotic VSL#3 just before operation and twice daily up to 15 total doses (n = 67) or placebo (n = 68) was done. Outcomes revealed no effect of perioperative use of VSL#3 probiotic on 30-day composite endpoint of mortality, readmission, and infection rate. Those exposed to probiotics exhibited a significantly higher readmission rate.