Lactate levels in bowel strangulation with experimental animal model.

Bowel strangulation is a common disease and often requires an urgent operation. Our previous report showed that lactate concentration in the blood is a good predictive marker for emergency. However, the alteration in lactate levels during the course of bowel strangulation remains unclear. We have investigated the progressive increase of lactate after induction of bowel strangulation with animal experiments. Thirty-six mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: 0, 8, 16, 24, 48, and 72 hours after operation. Under anesthesia, laparotomy was performed and a 5-cm segment of terminal ileum with the mesenteric artery and veins was ligated to create a strangulation obstruction. After operation, the arterial blood was collected and lactate concentration and pH were measured using a blood gas analyzer. Lactate concentration in the 8-hour group was markedly increased, while pH decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Lactate concentrations were kept at a high level from 8 to 72 hours after operation. The time lag between strangulation and an increase of lactate is 8 hours. Our study is the first report of a bowel strangulation mouse model. Therefore, it would be possible to find a more specific marker of bowel strangulation using our experimental model.