Intraluminal intestinal administration of oxygenated perfluorocarbon improves acid-base and cardiopulmonary parameters after acute mesenteric ischemia. An experimental study in rabbits.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the intraluminal intestinal administration of oxygenated perfluorocarbon, during experimental acute intestinal ischemia, on the acid-base blood status and the cardiopulmonary parameters.
METHODS: Thirty-six rabbits were separated into three groups: (a) Control group (ischemia alone), (b) PFC-O2 group (ischemia plus infusion of oxygenated F-Decalin in intraluminal intestinal administration), and (c) PFC group (ischemia plus infusion of nonoxygenated F-Decalin in intraluminal intestinal administration). An equal number of the animals was then subjected to 8 h of intestinal ischemia by ligation of the superior mesenteric artery (subgroups 1), the mesenteric vein (subgroups 2) or both vessels (subgroups 3). At 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h arterial blood samples were taken for acid-base status tests and the vital signs (heart and respiratory rate, pressure of inferior vena cava, and systolic arterial pressure) were noted. The statistical analysis was performed by the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test.
RESULTS: There were no significant differences in any of the studied parameters (pH, base excess, respiratory gases, pressure of inferior vena cava, systolic arterial pressure, heart and respiratory rate) between animals of the same group and subgroup. In addition, the differences among Control and PFC groups and their equal subgroups were not significant. On the other hand, the measurements of the PFC-O2 animals showed significant differences at 4, 6, and 8 h of ischemia (P < 0.05) in comparison with those from the Control and PFC groups.
CONCLUSION: We conclude that the intraluminal intestinal administration of oxygenated perfluorocarbons may thus be a useful adjunctive therapy in the treatment of patients with acute mesenteric ischemia.