Transient intestinal ischaemia induced by degradable starch microspheres. Experiments in the cat.

Temporary ischaemia was induced in cat small intestine by degradable starch microspheres. Regional arterial and tissue blood flow immediately fell by 85 per cent with subsequent normalization within 26 min after microsphere injection. Degraded 99Tcm-labelled microspheres were exponentially removed from intestinal vessels and accumulated in the liver. Provided near-total arteriolar obstruction is induced, external isotope detection may permit assessment of the duration of the induced ischaemia, which implies a selection of the appropriate time for radiation therapy.