Measurements of tissue oxygen tension in vascularised jejunal autografts in pigs.

Tissue oxygen measurements were evaluated as a monitor of the jejunal flap in seven female landrace pigs. A small polarographic sensor (diameter 0.55 mm) was used in which interstitial tissue oxygen tension was measured continuously in a jejunal flap and a muscle flap (rectus abdominis) during arterial and venous occlusion. Mean (SEM) tissue oxygen tension in the two types of flap were 44(9) mmHg (jejunal flap) and 47(8) mmHg (rectus flap). After arterial occlusion for 30 minutes the values dropped to 17(4) mmHg for the jejunal flap and 12(2) mmHg for the muscle flap. The decline became significant after five minutes. During venous occlusion (30 minutes) the values fell to 20(4) mmHg and 14(1) mmHg. The arterial occlusion was undetectable by the naked eye, but the enteric tissue after venous occlusion became severely congested and blue-black in colour. The condition returned to normal after release of the clamp. We conclude that direct measurement of tissue oxygen tension in a jejunal flap is a reliable method of detecting impaired perfusion. This method may in the future be used to monitor vascularised jejunal autografts.