Influence of cold on stress ulceration and on gastric mucosal blood flow and energy metabolism.

"Ice-cold" gastric lavage is an important part of the treatment of bleeding from stress ulceration. The purpose of this study was to find out if cooling modifies ischemic injury of the gastric mucosa. Four series of experiments were performed in rabbits. In the first, we studied the influence of cooling on the rate of breakdown of gastric mucosal high energy phosphates during complete, ex vivo ischemia achieved by rapid excision of the stomach. We then studied the influence of cold versus warm gastric lavage on the severity of gastric mucosal injury and on the rate of breakdown of gastric mucosal adenosine phosphates during hemorrhagic shock. In a fourth series of experiments, we examined the influence of cold versus warm gastric lavage on gastric mucosal blood flow measured by injection of radioactive microspheres. Although the rate of breakdown of mucosal high energy phosphates was less rapid during a short period of complete, ex vivo ischemia when the stomach was cooled, this rate was more rapid during hemorrhagic shock under in vivo conditions when the stomach was lavaged with cold solution. The latter also increased the severity of shock-induced gastric mucosal injury. Cold gastric lavage reduced gastric mucosal blood flow before, during and after hemorrhagic shock.