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BMC Anesthesiology
Published in: BMC Anesthesiology 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Thoracic epidural analgesia reduces gastric microcirculation in the pig

Authors: Rikard Ambrus, Rune B. Strandby, Niels H. Secher, Kim Rünitz, Morten B. S. Svendsen, Lonnie G. Petersen, Michael P. Achiam, Lars B. Svendsen

Published in: BMC Anesthesiology | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is used for pain relief during and after abdominal surgery, but the effect of TEA on the splanchnic microcirculation remains debated. We evaluated whether TEA affects splanchnic microcirculation in the pig.

Methods

Splanchnic microcirculation was assessed in nine pigs prior to and 15 and 30 min after induction of TEA. Regional blood flow was assessed by neutron activated microspheres and changes in microcirculation by laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI).

Results

As assessed by LSCI 15 min following TEA, gastric arteriolar flow decreased by 22 % at the antrum (p = 0.020) and by 19 % at the corpus (p = 0.029) of the stomach. In parallel, the microcirculation decreased by 19 % at the antrum (p = 0.015) and by 20 % at the corpus (p = 0.028). Reduced arteriolar flow and microcirculation at the antrum was confirmed by a reduction in microsphere assessed regional blood flow 30 min following induction of TEA (p = 0.048). These manifestations took place along with a drop in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.030), but with no significant change in mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, or heart rate.

Conclusion

The results indicate that TEA may have an adverse effect on gastric arteriolar blood flow and microcirculation. LSCI is a non-touch technique and displays changes in blood flow in real-time and may be important for further evaluation of the concern regarding the effect of thoracic epidural anesthesia on gastric microcirculation in humans.

Trial registrations

Not applicable, non-human study.
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Metadata
Title
Thoracic epidural analgesia reduces gastric microcirculation in the pig
Authors
Rikard Ambrus
Rune B. Strandby
Niels H. Secher
Kim Rünitz
Morten B. S. Svendsen
Lonnie G. Petersen
Michael P. Achiam
Lars B. Svendsen
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Anesthesiology / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2253
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-016-0256-4

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