Tonometry to estimate intestinal perfusion in newborn piglets

Aim-To determine the correlation between gastric intramucosal pH and superi or mesenteric artery (SIMA) flow in newborn piglets. Methods-Fourteen newborn piglets were randomly assigned to either a control or to an epinephrine group which received 0,1,2,4,0 mu g/kg/min of epineph rine for 60 minutes, each dose. Gastric tonometry was performed, SMA flow w as measured, and intramucosal pH and the ratio of tonometer pCO(2) over art erial pCO(2) (rCO(2)) were calculated. Results-Intramucosal pH decreased over time in both groups, but tended to b e lower in the epinephrine group. With increasing dose of epinephrine, SMA flow decreased; this in turn increased rCO(2) (p = 0.04) with a tendency to decrease intramucosal pH (p = 0.06). Conclusions-Gastric tonometry may be useful in human neonates to evaluate g ut ischaemia.