Abstract
Background: The vasoactive peptide octreotide has an established role in controlling variceal hemorrhage. The mechanism of action is believed to be a reduction in splanchnic blood flow. A decrease in splanchnic blood flow should be mirrored by a decrease in gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF). Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) should detect changes in GMBF. Methods: In seven normal volunteers and four patients with portal hypertension, 100 micro g of octreotide was administered as an intravenous bolus. Continuous LDF measurements were then made at a single point on the midantrum for at least 10 min and plotted against time for each subject. Results: After a variable period of stabilization, GMBF decreased in all subjects except one. This was statistically significant in both the controls and the patients with portal hypertension. Conclusions: Octreotide decreases GMBF in normal and portal hypertensive stomachs. Laser Doppler is a useful and minimally invasive tool to assess the effect of drugs on GMBF.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1570-1572 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Surgical Endoscopy: surgical and interventional techniques |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2003 |
| Externally published | Yes |