Changes in gastric intramucosal pH following mesenteric traction in patients undergoing pancreas surgery.
OBJECTIVE
During major abdominal surgery, mesenteric traction (MT) may result in hemodynamic instability mainly due to endogenous prostacyclin release. Gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) and PiCO2 are indicators of splanchnic tissue perfusion with a predictive value for the postoperative outcome. We investigated the influence of MT on gastric pHi and on postoperative outcome in patients undergoing pancreas surgery.


METHODS
Forty-six consecutive patients scheduled for pancreas surgery were investigated. We registered hemodynamics and pHi by gastric tonometry and documented postoperative outcome (complications, hospital stay). Baseline data (T0) were recorded after skin incision. Further assessments followed 30, 60 and 120 min after intentional MT (T1-3) and at the end of surgery (T4).


RESULTS
Thirty-three patients demonstrated a decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) following MT, whereas 13 patients showed entirely stable hemodynamics. The significant reduction in MAP in patients with an MT response was not associated with changes in pHi as compared to patients with no response (stable MAP) (T0 7.34 +/- 0.08 vs. 7.35 +/- 0.06; T1 7.34 +/- 0.05 vs. 7.32 +/- 0.07; T2 7.32 +/- 0. 05 vs. 7.31 +/- 0.08; T3 7.32 +/- 0.05 vs. 7.32 +/- 0.07; T4 7.26 +/- 0.1 vs. 7.27 +/- 0.08; mean +/- SD, MT response vs. no response). Neither MT response nor gastric intramucosal acidosis as evidenced by a pHi <7.32 at the end of surgery predicted postoperative complications or longer hospital stay.


CONCLUSIONS
No deterioration of gastric pHi was found, which could reflect acceptable splanchnic perfusion and oxygenation despite systemic blood pressure reactions in patients experiencing an MT response.
Brinkmann
A
A
Department of Anesthesiology, University Clinics, Ulm, Germany.
Seeling
W
W
Rockemann
M
M
Junge
J H
JH
Radermacher
P
P
Wiedeck
H
H
Büchler
M W
MW
Georgieff
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014143:Traction; D016896:Treatment Outcome