Saline volume required to achieve peristaltic intraluminal pressure during leak testing of canine colotomies, using two methods of luminal occlusion.

BACKGROUND

No studies have appeared in the literature evaluating the intraluminal volume of injected saline in the canine colon for performing leak tests in colotomy incisions.

AIM

To determine the volume of the injected intraluminal saline necessary to achieve an intraluminal pressure of 17.3 cm HO in 10 cm colonic segments containing a closed colotomy occluded with intestinal forceps or by digital pressure.

METHODS

Fresh colon was obtained from 8 canine cadavers and divided into 10 cm segments. A 3 cm antimesenteric colonic incision was performed at each intestinal segment which was closed using a 3-0 polydioxanone suture in a simple continuous pattern. Each colonic construct was occluded with Doyen intestinal forceps or by digital pressure and a leak test was performed by saline infusion. The saline volume needed to achieve a predetermined intraluminal pressure of 17.3 cm HO, following occlusion was recorded.

RESULTS

The mean volume of injected saline with the Doyen intestinal forceps occlusion (20.4 ± 8.2 ml) was significantly larger than that of the digital occlusion technique (17.5 ± 6.8 ml) [ = 0.021].

CONCLUSION

For 10 cm canine colonic constructs containing a closed colotomy, saline volumes of 20.4 ml with Doyen occlusion and 17.5 ml with digital occlusion can be utilized to achieve intraluminal pressures of 17.3 cm HO.