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Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 1999;81:F105-F109 doi:10.1136/fn.81.2.F105
  • Original article

Tonometry to estimate intestinal perfusion in newborn piglets

  1. Morag E Campbella,
  2. John E Van Aerdea,
  3. Po-Yin Cheungb,
  4. Damon C Mayesb
  1. aNeonatal Intensive Care Unit Children’s Health Centre Departments of Pediatrics University of Alberta Edmonton Canada, bDepartment of Obstetrics
  1. Dr J Van Aerde 3A3.08 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit W MacKenzie Health Sciences Centre University of Alberta Hospitals Edmonton Alberta Canada T6G 2R7. Email: jvanaerd{at}pop.srv.ualberta.ca.
  • Accepted 12 March 1999

Abstract

AIM To determine the correlation between gastric intramucosal pH and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) flow in newborn piglets.

METHODS Fourteen newborn piglets were randomly assigned to either a control or to an epinephrine group which received 0,1,2,4,0 μg/kg/min of epinephrine for 60 minutes, each dose. Gastric tonometry was performed, SMA flow was measured, and intramucosal pH and the ratio of tonometer pCO2 over arterial pCO2 (rCO2) were calculated.

RESULTS Intramucosal pH decreased over time in both groups, but tended to be lower in the epinephrine group. With increasing dose of epinephrine, SMA flow decreased; this in turn increased rCO2 (p = 0.04) with a tendency to decrease intramucosal pH (p = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS Gastric tonometry may be useful in human neonates to evaluate gut ischaemia.

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