Saline volume necessary to achieve predetermined intraluminal pressures during leak testing of small intestinal biopsy sites in the dog.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the volume of saline needed to achieve targeted intraluminal pressures during leak testing of closed jejunal biopsy sites in the dog.

STUDY DESIGN

Experimental.

ANIMALS

Dogs (n=38).

METHODS

Jejunal biopsies in dogs were performed and closed using 3-4 full thickness simple interrupted sutures. Saline volumes needed to achieve 2 predetermined intraluminal pressures (20 and 34 cm water [15 and 25 mmHg]) in a 10 cm canine jejunal segment containing a closed biopsy site using 2 methods of luminal occlusion were recorded.

RESULTS

The 95% confidence intervals for the volume of saline needed to achieve 20 and 34 cm water intraluminal pressure were 10.9-13.6 and 16.3-19.0 mL, respectively with digital occlusion and 8.5-11.1 and 12.1-14.8 mL, respectively with Doyen occlusion. Correlation between volume of saline instilled and the pressure achieved was 0.76 for digital occlusion and 0.86 for Doyen occlusion.

CONCLUSION

Correlation between volume of saline instilled and pressure achieved was greater with Doyen than digital occlusion.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

For canine jejunum, saline volumes of 16.3-19 mL (digital occlusion) and 12.1-14.8 mL (Doyen occlusion) can be used to achieve intraluminal pressures of 34 cm water during leak testing of a 10 cm segment containing a closed biopsy site.