No abstract

Even in the early experience the HeartMate II was used as a chronic support device in a substantial number of patients in Europe. Although the total experience is still limited, the incidence of cerebrovascular accidents is very low and the survival beyond the perioperative period is excellent.

Tissue penetration of laser light and measuring depth (depth sensitivity) for laser Doppler flowmetry in the gastrointestinal application were studied in the feline and human bowel and stomach with a wall thickness of from 2.1 to 7.0 mm. Mucosal and serosal recordings from corresponding sites in the gastrointestinal tract were comparable and in the intestine correlated to total blood flow. Laser light was reflected by a mirror placed on the opposite side of the bowel wall, and hyperemic reactions were similarly recorded from both sides of the bowel with wall thickness up to 6 mm. Placing layers of unperfused feline small intestine (average thickness, 2.1 mm) between the probe and the perfused feline gastric wall attenuated the laser Doppler signal in an exponential manner. We conclude that with this instrument, the tissue penetration and measuring depth of laser Doppler flowmetry are at least 6 mm in the gastrointestinal application.

Our animal model of low and high IAP by intraperitoneal CO2-insufflation worked well for studies of microcirculation, hemodynamics, and pulmonary function. During stepwise increases of pressure there were marked effects on global hemodynamics, respiratory function, and microcirculation. The results indicate that intestinal mucosal flow, especially small bowel mucosal flow, although reduced, seems better preserved in response to intra-abdominal hypertension caused by CO2-insufflation than other intra-abdominal microvascular beds.