Progressive gastric perfusion in rats: role of ischemic conditioning

Abstract

Occult ischemia of the mobilized stomach is usually related to the dehiscence of an esophagogastric anastomosis. The principle of ischemic conditioning was studied to verify its clinic use. This study aims to evaluate progressively the tissue perfusion of the stomach in ischemic conditioning, establishing the best moment for gastric transposition. Twenty-four male EPM-1 Wistar rats were used, which also underwent partial desvacularization of the stomach by ligature of the left gastric vessels. Tissue perfusion was measured through flowmetry by laser Doppler (tissue perfusion unit; TPU) in the antrum (10 mm distal from the cardiac region). This measurement was done before (baseline) and immediately after the ligature, and on different postoperative days (POD) (days 3, 7, 10, and 14). A statistical analysis was done with nonparametric tests (P <or= 0.05). The mean value (+/-SD) of the gastric perfusion, during the whole study period, was 88 +/- 6 (baseline), 23 +/- 5 (postligature), 31 +/- 5 (3rd POD), 55 +/- 4 (7th POD), 71 +/- 16 (10th POD), and 84 +/- 6 (14th POD), respectively. Perfusion immediately after the artery ligature was significantly lower (74%) than the baseline of the gastric perfusion; therefore, in the following days, tissue perfusion increased progressively (35%, 63%, 81%, and 96%, respectively). The flowmetry of the stomach reached basal values in the 14th POD of desvascularization, suggesting that this would the best day to perform a gastric transposition. However, on the 10th POD, good tissue perfusion was observed. The extrapolation from these data to the clinic could improve the results of esophagogastric anastomosis.