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.