Effect of Oxygen Breathing on Jejunal Tissue Gas Tensions during Superior Mesenteric Arterial Occlusion

Abstract

Inberg, M. V., Havia, T., Arola, M. K. & Niinikoski, J. Effect of oxygen breathing on jejunal tissue gas tensions during superior mesenteric arterial occlusion. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1974, 9, 337-342.Effects of oxygen breathing on jejunal tissue gas tensions during superior mesenteric arterial (SMA) occlusion were measured in dogs by means of an implanted Silastic tube. The first dog was used for testing the method, and the other 6 dogs were handled in pairs so that jejunal tissue gas tensions were obtained simultaneously from air-breathing and oxygen-breathing animals. In each pair ventilation with pure oxygen increased significantly the supply of oxygen in the jejunal wall during SMA occlusion. This is probably due to marked collateral circulation of the bowel. During SMA occlusion the jejunal tissue pCO2 was consistently higher in oxygen-breathing dogs than in dogs breathing air. This suggests that during the ischemic period the capability of jejunal tissue to produce carbon dioxide is better preserved in animals breathing oxygen. Thus the results tend to amplify earlier observations according to which oxygen therapy delays the effects of SMA occlusion on the intestine.