Preserving the mucosal barrier during small bowel storage.

Background: A major obstacle to successful small bowel transplantation is that of bacterial infection. The aim of this study was to preserve the small bowel mucosal barrier by using oxygenated luminal perfusion with a proven amino acid (AA)-based solution.

Methods: Rat small bowel (n=4) was flushed vascularly with modified University of Wisconsin solution and flushed luminally as follows: group 1, none (control); group 2, AA solution; group 3, 1-hr perfusion then storage with AA; group 4, continuous perfusion with AA.

A novel technique of hypothermic luminal perfusion for small bowel preservation.

Background: This study improved small bowel preservation using University of Wisconsin (UW) solution in conjunction with hypothermic luminal perfusion.

Methods: Small bowels from Sprague-Dawley rats (n=4) were flushed vascularly with modified UW solution and flushed luminally: group 1, none (clinical control); group 2, UW solution; group 3, 1-hr oxygenated perfusion then static storage with UW; and group 4, 24-hr continuous oxygenated perfusion with UW. Energetics, lipid peroxidation, and histology were assessed during 24 hr at 4 degrees C.