A technique for the isolation and visualization of intestinal segments for study of closed loop strangulation

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Summary The high mortality rate in patients with a short loop of obstructed and strangulated intestine is thought to be due to the action of poorly understood toxic substances which exude from the serosal surfaces of the dying intestine. Additional detailed pathologic-physiologic studies concerning this problem are necessary if progress is to be made in lowering the death rate. This report describes a new method that has been developed and used in experimental animals for isolating a strangulated closed loop of intestine in a plastic bag. This technique permits the continuous visualization and palpation of the exteriorized, isolated loop of intestine without fear of outside contamination, provides easy and accurate representative and serial sampling of the strangulation fluid, and adequately seals the strangulated loop from the peritoneal cavity. Dilution of the toxic fluid by the peritoneal secretions is prevented and complete control of the time and circumstance of liberation of the toxins from the isolated preparation is possible. The technique is being used effectively in a series of experiments to study the nature of the “strangulation” fluids, its physiologic and pathologic effects, and its bacterial flora.