Evaluation of laser Doppler flowmetry for measurement of capillary blood flow in the stomach wall of dogs during gastric dilatation-volvulus.

OBJECTIVES

To validate laser doppler flowmetry (LDF) for measurement of blood flow in the stomach wall of dogs with gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV).

ANIMALS

Six purpose-bred dogs and 24 dogs with naturally occurring GDV.

STUDY DESIGN

Experimental and clinical.

METHODS

Capillary blood flow in the body of the stomach and pyloric antrum was measured with LDF (tissue perfusion unit (TPU) before and after induction of portal hypertension (PH) and after PH plus gastric ischemia (GI; PH + GI) and compared with flow measured by colored microsphere technique. Capillary flow was measured by LDF in the stomach wall of dogs with GDV.

RESULTS

PH and PH+GI induced a significant reduction in blood flow in the body of the stomach (P = .019). A significant positive correlation was present between percent changes in capillary blood flow measured by LDF and colored microspheres after induction of PH + GI in the body of the stomach (r = 0.94, P = .014) and in the pyloric antrum (r = 0.95, P = .049). Capillary blood flow measured in the body of the stomach of 6 dogs that required partial gastrectomy (5.00+/-3.30 TPU) was significantly lower than in dogs that did not (28.00+/-14.40 TPU, P = .013).

CONCLUSIONS

LDF can detect variations in blood flow in the stomach wall of dogs.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

LDF may have application for evaluation of stomach wall viability during surgery in dogs with GDV.