Motility, haemodynamics and responsibility to vasoactive agents after revascularization of autotransplanted small intestine segments in the dog

Functional and haemodynamic changes occuring after revascularization of an autotransplanted small intestine segment were studied in acute experiments performed in 10 dogs under pentobarbital anaesthesia. Intestinal motility and mesenteric blood flow of the segment were measured with intraluminal pressurized balloon and electromagnetic flowmeter, respectively. The time-course of observations was divided, according to the findings, into three main periods (phases 1 to 3). In the initial phase (1) the bowel exhibited very slight spontaneous motility which was found to increase moderately but significantly after denervation and isolation of the graft still left in situ before transplantation (phase 2). After declamping of anastomoses of the retransplanted graft (which was protected by cooling to 4 °C after being removed from the body) a short period (~ 2 min) of reactive hyperaemic flow increase was observed in association of vigorous bowel movements lasting for a more prolonged (~ 15 min) period of time (phase 3a and 3b). Reactivity of the retransplanted vasculature as compared to the denervated control revealed a marked relative shift in adrenergic balance, tested by dopamine, to the vasoconstrictor range, but it showed no change in responses to general haemodynamic or haemorheologic interventions, tested by veratrine and pentoxifylline, respectively. However, the basic levels of blood supply (controlled also by thermography) and systemic blood pressure remained unaltered after transplantation. Regarding the critical role of functional changes immediately after transplantation in determining the survival of bowel grafts, these observations may contribute to a more effective monitoring of surgical interventions.