Prolongation of Postirradiation Survival by Diversion of Intestinal Content

Abstract

Diversion of the intestinal contents by converting 95% of the small intestine into a T-V fistula 3 to 5 days before x-irradiation of the abdomen (1500 R) prolongs the survival time of dogs receiving such lethal irradiation. Following irradiation, intact and operated controls succumbed by the third or fourth day. T-V fistula animals survived for at least 8 days, with one alive for over 3 months. Radiation enteropathy in the isolated loops was less intense than that seen in the small intestines in continuity in the same animals. Loss of fluid through the T-V fistulas was negligible, and the loss per rectum of these dogs was also less than that of the controls. Leukocytosis associated with cellularity of rib, sternal, and lumbar vertebra marrow occurred after the fifth day in the T-V fistula dogs. In the control animals there was no leukocytosis. There was cellularity of the rib and sternal marrow, but the marrow of the lumbar vertebrae (within the radiated field) was hypocellular.