NONINVASIVE MEASUREMENT OF COLONIC BLOOD-FLOW DISTRIBUTION USING LASER-DOPPLER IMAGING

Background This study tested a prototype laster Doppler scanner for th e measurement of human colonic blood flow. Methods Blood flow distribu tion was assessed in human colon during operation in sis controls and in six patients with inflammatory bowel disease undergoing colectomy. Image processing software analysed several hundred reading points, exp ressing average flow in perfusion units. Results Blood flow in the col on was nut significantly lower in the control group than in patients w ith inflammatory bowel disease (mean(s.e.m.) 297.8(24.5) versus 347.2( 59.0) perfusion units, P = 0.12). Intestinal colonic mural blood suppl y was demonstrated up to a distance of 6 cm and ischaemia demarcation lines were identified before the onset of visible changes. Conclusion This prototype laser Doppler flowscanner overcomes the previous limita tions of laser Doppler flowmeters and may have many clinical and resea rch applications.