ENHANCEMENT OF INTESTINAL ABSORPTIVE-CAPACITY WITH OMENTAL FLAPS

The ability of pedicled omental flaps to revascularize isolated jejuna l segments was determined in the initial phase of this project. These bowel segments were capable of surviving independent of their mesenter ic perfusion, and absorptive function was equal to that of controls as measured by D-xylose assays. In the second phase of this research, we studied in 10 dogs the absorptive capacity of isolated jejunal segmen ts with both an intact mesentery and an omental flap sutured to the an timesenteric border compared with controls that were perfused only by the mesentery. Absorption was measured at 1, 2, 5, and 10 weeks after application of the omental flap. Absorptive function was augmented an average of 25.8% at 2 weeks, reaching 67.6% (p < 0.001) at 5 weeks. Th is result remained consistent at 10 weeks. Laser Doppler and colored m icrosphere studies were performed during a secondary laparotomy at 10 weeks and revealed 42.3% and 53.5% increases, respectively, in blood f low to bowel segments receiving both mesenteric and omental perfusion. This finding suggested that the augmentation of absorptive function w as a result of increased blood flow.