Infrared laser Doppler flowmeter in the determination of small bowel perfusion after ischemic injury: comparison with the clearance of locally generated hydrogen and fluorescein angiography.

The determination of small bowel perfusion after an ischemic insult is difficult. Regional perfusion was determined in an animal model of neonatal intestinal ischemia using the techniques of laser Doppler flowmetry and the clearance of locally generated hydrogen. Both methods reliably measured tissue perfusion in the areas of maximal ischemic injury. However, considerable variability, perhaps owing to motion artifact, was seen in areas of patchy necrosis. The results suggest that the laser Doppler flowmeter is a suitable technique to measure tissue perfusion in areas of maximal ischemia. However, efforts to reduce motion artifact will be necessary if the laser Doppler is to be used in tissue sites where blood flow is critical for safe anastomosis. This will be a subject of future study.