Chronic splanchnic ischaemia: is tonometry a useful test?
OBJECTIVE
To find out if gastric tonometry is of sufficient accuracy to diagnose chronic splanchnic syndrome.


METHODS
Prospective open study.


METHODS
University hospital, The Netherlands.


METHODS
10 patients in whom chronic splanchnic syndrome had been suspected, and in 5 of whom it was subsequently confirmed.


METHODS
Standardised measurement of intramucosal gastric pH (tonometry) and multiplane angiography of the abdominal aorta and splanchnic arteries.


METHODS
Correlation between intramucosal gastric pH and angiographic and clinical findings.


RESULTS
The mean basal pH preoperatively was 7.48 among 5 patients subsequently found to have splanchnic syndrome (group 1) and 7.41 among the 5 who did not (group 2). Those in group 1 all had extensive three vessel disease with stenoses of 70% or more in at least two of the three splanchnic arteries. The 5 patients in group 2 had no clinically important stenoses in either the coeliac or the superior mesenteric artery; 4 had occlusions of the inferior mesenteric artery.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastric tonometry is of no use in the diagnosis of chronic splanchnic syndrome.
Geelkerken
R H
RH
Department of Surgery, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
Schultze Kool
L J
LJ
Hermans
J
J
Zarza
M T
MT
van Bockel
J H
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation