Assessment of colon circulation, in suspected ischaemic conditions, is a challenging task. Mesenteric angiography, which is considered as a gold standard for assessment of circulation, Laser Doppler flowmetry and tonometry have their own limitations. The aim of this study is to investigate the applicability of visible light spectrophotometry (VLS) in assessing mucosal tissue oxygenation (SO2) in normal colon.
Methods: Ten patients undergoing elective colonoscopy were recruited for this study. All of them had normal looking mucosa without any macroscopic evidences of inflammation or bleeding at the time of the procedure. The colonoscopies were done under sedation and patients were given oxygen at the rate of 2L/minute by nasal catheter during the procedures. Tissue oxygenation (SO2) was measured in the different parts of the large bowel with VLS. The measurements were done by means of a catheter probe introduced via the biopsy channel of the colonoscope.
Results: The median age of the patients was 57 (22-79). The results showed that there was no significant difference in the SO2 between the different parts of the colon. The mean SO2 (± SD) in the colon mucosa was 81% (± 8.5). There were no procedure related complications.
Conclusion: This study shows that VLS is a reliable and safe technique for assessing the microcirculation in the colon through the measurement of tissue SO2. It, thus, has the potential for clinical use in suspected colon ischaemia.
Singh DB, Stansby G, Bain I, Yiannakou Y, Harrison DK. Visible light spectrophotometry - A novel technique for clinical assessment of colon microcirculation. 58th Meeting of the British Microcirculation Society, Kings College London, 31st March - 2nd April 2008 (poster presentation).
Dr. David K. Harrison, Durham Unit, Durham. Tel: +44 (0)191-333-2215.
Regional Medical Physics Department, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK.
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