Systemic evaluation on ischemia and reperfusion injury of splanchnic organs in rats.

Purpose: To evaluate hemodynamic and systemic changes during and after splanchnic ischemia and reperfusion (I/R).

Methods: Rats were divided into two groups: a) control: animals submitted to surgery, but not to I/R, treated with saline (5 ml/kg/h) for 150 min; b) group I/R: animals continuously infused with saline, and submitted to occlusion of the celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery (SMA), and inferior mesenteric artery for 30 min, followed by a 120-min reperfusion. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), venous pressure, aortic and SMA blood flow, heart rate, esophageal temperature and hematocrit were evaluated.

Results: During reperfusion in I/R groups, there was a progressive decrease in MABP, aortic blood flow, SMA blood flow, heart rate and esophageal temperature; vein pressure and hematocrit remained unchanged during the experiment.

Conclusion: The model of ischemia used causes systemic changes, which are evidenced by hypotension, decrease in mesenteric blood flow, heart rate and esophageal temperature.