Intestinal Ischaemia (intestinal + ischaemia)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


The role of the intestine in the pathophysiology and management of severe acute pancreatitis

HPB, Issue 2 2003
RS Flint
Background The outcome of severe acute pancreatitis has scarcely improved in 10 years. Further impact will require new paradigms in pathophysiology and treatment. There is accumulating evidence to support the concept that the intestine has a key role in the pathophysiology of severe acute pancreatitis which goes beyond the notion of secondary pancreatic infection. Intestinal ischaemia and reperfusion and barrier failure are implicated in the development of multiple organ failure. Discussion Conventional management of severe acute pancreatitis has tended to ignore the intestine. More recent attempts to rectify this problem have included 1) resuscitation aimed at restoring intestinal blood flow through the use of appropriate fluids and splanchnic-sparing vasoconstrictors or inotropes; 2) enteral nutrition to help maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier; 3) selective gut decontamination and prophylactic antibiotics to reduce bacterial translocation and secondary infection. Novel therapies are being developed to limit intestinal injury, and these include antioxidants and anti-cytokine agents. This paper focuses on the role of the intestine in the pathogenesis of severe acute pancreatitis and reviews the implications for management. [source]


Clinicoradiological score for predicting the risk of strangulated small bowel obstruction

BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 7 2010
F. Schwenter
Background: Intestinal ischaemia as a result of small bowel obstruction (SBO) requires prompt recognition and early intervention. A clinicoradiological score was sought to predict the risk of ischaemia in patients with SBO. Methods: A clinico-radiological protocol for the assessment of patients presenting with SBO was used. A logistic regression model was applied to identify determinant variables and construct a clinical score that would predict ischaemia requiring resection. Results: Of 233 consecutive patients with SBO, 138 required laparotomy of whom 45 underwent intestinal resection. In multivariable analysis, six variables correlated with small bowel resection and were given one point each towards the clinical score: history of pain lasting 4 days or more, guarding, C-reactive protein level at least 75 mg/l, leucocyte count 10 × 109/l or greater, free intraperitoneal fluid volume at least 500 ml on computed tomography (CT) and reduction of CT small bowel wall contrast enhancement. The risk of intestinal ischaemia was 6 per cent in patients with a score of 1 or less, whereas 21 of 29 patients with a score of 3 or more underwent small bowel resection. A positive score of 3 or more had a sensitivity of 67·7 per cent and specificity 90·8 per cent; the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0·87 (95 per cent confidence interval 0·79 to 0·95). Conclusion: By combining clinical, laboratory and radiological parameters, the clinical score allowed early identification of strangulated SBO. Copyright © 2010 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Gastrointestinal complications after cardiac surgery

BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 3 2005
B. Andersson
Background: Gastrointestinal complications after cardiac surgery are often difficult to diagnose, and are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for these complications. Method: Between 1996 and 2001 data were collected prospectively from 6119 patients who underwent 6186 cardiac surgical procedures. Data from patients who experienced major gastrointestinal complications were analysed retrospectively by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Fifty major gastrointestinal complications were identified in 47 patients (incidence 0·8 per cent). Thirteen of these patients died within 30 days. The most common complication was upper gastrointestinal bleeding (16 patients). Intestinal ischaemia was the most lethal complication (eight of ten patients died). Abdominal surgical operations were performed in 12 patients. Multivariate analysis identified nine variables that independently predicted major gastrointestinal complications: age over 80 years, active smoker, need for preoperative inotropic support, New York Heart Association class III,IV, cardiopulmonary bypass time more than 150 min, postoperative atrial fibrillation, postoperative heart failure, reoperation for bleeding and postoperative vascular complications. Conclusion: Nine risk factors for the development of major gastrointestinal complications after cardiac surgery were identified. Gastrointestinal complications were often lethal but did not independently predict death within 30 days. Copyright © 2005 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Paradox of simultaneous intestinal ischaemia and hyperaemia in inflammatory bowel disease

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 10 2005
O. A. Hatoum
Abstract This review has focused on evidence regarding intestinal perfusion of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Basic investigation has defined an altered microvascular anatomy in the affected IBD bowel, which corresponds with diminished mucosal perfusion in the setting of chronic, long-standing inflammation. Diminished perfusion is linked to impaired wound healing, and may contribute to the continued refractory mucosal damage, which characterizes IBD. Alterations in vascular anatomy and physiology in IBD suggests additional possible mechanisms by which micro-vessels may contribute to the initiation and perpetuation of IBD. This begs the following questions: will angiogenesis within the gut lead to sustained inflammation, does the growing vasculature generate factors that transform the surrounding tissue and does angiogenesis generate vascular anastomosis within the gut, with shunting of blood away from the mucosal surface, impairment of metabolism and potentiation of gut damage? Further studies are required to define the mechanisms that underlie the vascular dysfunction and its role in pathophysiology of IBD. [source]


Hydrogen sulfide protects from intestinal ischaemia,reperfusion injury in rats

JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2009
Hao Liu
Abstract Objectives Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenously gaseous mediator, regulating many pathophysiological functions in mammalian cells. H2S has been shown to inhibit myocardial ischaemia,reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, little is known about whether H2S could modulate intestinal I/R injury. This study aimed to investigate the effect of H2S on intestinal I/R injury and potential mechanism(s) underlying the action of H2S in regulating the development of intestinal I/R injury in rats. Methods Following surgical induction of intestinal I/R injury for 1 h, groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with, or without, tetramethylpyrazine (8 mg/kg), or sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, an H2S donor at 7 or 14 ,mol/kg) 30 min after occlusion. All rats were sacrificed immediately after the reperfusion. Their intestinal injury, together with that of sham-control rats, was histologically examined and their sera and intestinal malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were characterized by biochemical analysis. Key findings The results showed that NaHS significantly reduced intestinal I/R injury and the levels of sera and intestinal MDA activity, and dramatically increased the levels of serum and intestinal SOD and GSH-Px activity. Conclusions The results suggest that H2S protects from intestinal I/R injury in rats, which is associated with increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes. [source]


Panax notoginseng saponins attenuate acute lung injury induced by intestinal ischaemia/reperfusion in rats

RESPIROLOGY, Issue 6 2009
Ling RONG
ABSTRACT Background and objective: Acute lung injury remains a challenge for both clinicians and scientists. The effects of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on acute lung injury induced by intestinal ischaemia/reperfusion (II/R) were studied in rats. Methods: Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: (1) a sham-operated group that received laparotomy without II/R (n= 12); (2) a sham + PNS group, which was identical to group 1 except for PNS treatment (n= 12); (3) an II/R group that had 1 h of intestinal ischaemia followed by 3 h of reperfusion (n= 12); and (4) an II/R + PNS group that received 100 mg/kg of PNS, i.v., 15 min before reperfusion (n= 12). The effects of PNS administration on lung tissue histology, activities of oxidant and antioxidant enzymes, levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity were examined. Levels of surfactant protein B, cell numbers in BAL fluid and plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were also examined. Results: Compared with the II/R group, pulmonary parenchymal damage, activities of oxidant enzymes, levels of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide, inducible nitric oxide synthase activity in lung tissue, and plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly reduced by PNS treatment. In addition, the decreases in antioxidant enzyme activities were prevented in the II/R + PNS group. Total leukocyte and neutrophil counts were significantly decreased by PNS treatment. The decline in surfactant protein B levels in BAL fluid was reduced in the II/R + PNS group compared with the II/R group. Conclusions: Administration of PNS before reperfusion injury alleviates acute lung injury induced by II/R, and this is attributable to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of PNS. [source]


The Enteric Nervous System II: Gastrointestinal Functions

BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2003
Mark Berner Hansen
This Minireview is part two of three and describes the role of the enteric nervous system in gastrointestinal functions (motility, exocrine and endocrine secretions, blood flow, and immune processes) in health and some disease states. In this context, the functional importance of the enteric nervous system for food intake, the gall bladder, and pancreas will be addressed. In specific, dysmotility, diarrhoea, constipation, non-occlusive intestinal ischaemia (intestinal angina), inflammation, cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, postcholecystectomy syndrome, and pancreatitis can be treated with neuroactive pharmacological agents. For example, serotonin receptor type four agonists can be used for the treatment of constipation, while nitric oxide synthesis inhibitors can be employed for the treatment of intestinal angina. [source]


Clinicoradiological score for predicting the risk of strangulated small bowel obstruction

BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 7 2010
F. Schwenter
Background: Intestinal ischaemia as a result of small bowel obstruction (SBO) requires prompt recognition and early intervention. A clinicoradiological score was sought to predict the risk of ischaemia in patients with SBO. Methods: A clinico-radiological protocol for the assessment of patients presenting with SBO was used. A logistic regression model was applied to identify determinant variables and construct a clinical score that would predict ischaemia requiring resection. Results: Of 233 consecutive patients with SBO, 138 required laparotomy of whom 45 underwent intestinal resection. In multivariable analysis, six variables correlated with small bowel resection and were given one point each towards the clinical score: history of pain lasting 4 days or more, guarding, C-reactive protein level at least 75 mg/l, leucocyte count 10 × 109/l or greater, free intraperitoneal fluid volume at least 500 ml on computed tomography (CT) and reduction of CT small bowel wall contrast enhancement. The risk of intestinal ischaemia was 6 per cent in patients with a score of 1 or less, whereas 21 of 29 patients with a score of 3 or more underwent small bowel resection. A positive score of 3 or more had a sensitivity of 67·7 per cent and specificity 90·8 per cent; the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0·87 (95 per cent confidence interval 0·79 to 0·95). Conclusion: By combining clinical, laboratory and radiological parameters, the clinical score allowed early identification of strangulated SBO. Copyright © 2010 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Ischaemic preconditioning improves microvascular perfusion and oxygenation following reperfusion injury of the intestine,

BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 9 2005
I. H. Mallick
Background: Ischaemia,reperfusion (IR) injury of the intestine occurs commonly during abdominal surgery. Ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) provides a way of protecting the organ from damage inflicted by IR. This study was designed to evaluate the beneficial effect of IPC, focusing on the intestinal microcirculation and oxygenation in intestinal IR injury. Methods: Rats were allocated to three groups. Animals in the IR and IPC groups underwent 30 min of intestinal ischaemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. In the IPC group this was preceded by 10 min of ischaemia and 10 min of reperfusion. Animals in the third group underwent laparotomy but no vascular occlusion. Intestinal microvascular perfusion, oxygenation and portal venous blood flow (PVF) were monitored continuously. At the end of the reperfusion period, blood samples were obtained for measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and biopsies of ileum for histological evaluation. Results: IPC improved intestinal microvascular perfusion and tissue oxygenation significantly at the end of the reperfusion period (P < 0·001). PVF improved significantly in the IPC compared with the IR group (P = 0·005). The serum LDH concentration was significantly lower in the IPC than the IR group (mean(s.e.m.) 667·1(86·8) versus 1973·8(306·5) U/l; P < 0·001) Histological examination showed that ileal mucosa was significantly less injured in the IPC group. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that IPC improves intestinal microvascular perfusion and oxygenation. Copyright © 2005 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]