INFRARED-LASER DOPPLER FLOWMETER IN THE DETERMINATION OF SMALL-BOWEL PERFUSION AFTER ISCHEMIC-INJURY - COMPARISON WITH THE CLEARANCE OF LOCALLY GENERATED HYDROGEN AND FLUORESCEIN ANGIOGRAPHY

The determination of small bowel perfusion after an ischemic insult is difficult. Regional perfusion was determined in an animal model of ne onatal intestinal ischemia using the techniques of laser Doppler flowm etry and the clearance of locally generated hydrogen. Both methods rel iably measured tissue perfusion in the areas of maximal ischemic injur y. However, considerable variability, perhaps owing to motion artifact , was seen in areas of patchy necrosis. The results suggest that the l aser Doppler flowmeter is a suitable technique to measure tissue perfu sion in areas of maximal ischemia. However, efforts to reduce motion a rtifact will be necessary if the laser Doppler is to be used in tissue sites where blood flow is critical for safe anastomosis. This will be a subject of future study. Copyright (C) 1994 by W.B. Saunders Compan y