The effectiveness of gastric tonometry in the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia in cases where a contrast-enhanced computed tomography cannot be obtained.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of gastric tonometry in the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia in cases where a contrast-enhanced computed tomography cannot be obtained.


METHODS
The gastric pH (pHi) and gastric CO2 (gpCO2) were measured with gastric tonometry catheter, preoperatively and postoperatively at 24 hours, in patients with suspicion of acute mesenteric ischemia. Simultaneous evaluation of blood gases and blood lactate levels were performed. Patients were divided into two groups after surgery. Group 1 included patients with mesenteric ischemia, and Group 2 consisted of patients without mesenteric ischemia.


RESULTS
Forty-two patients (26 males, 16 females) were evaluated. The mean age was 61.4±13.3 years. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of demographic factors and co-morbid diseases. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of pHi and gpCO2 levels (7.24±0.2 and -3±12.0 in Group 1, 7.18±0.06 and -3±1.9 in Group 2, respectively), intra-abdominal pressure, lactate levels, and survival. Among all the study parameters, only arterial pH had statistical significance in the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia (7.23±0.21 versus 7.35±0.07 for Groups 1 and 2, respectively,) (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Gastric tonometry is not a useful method in the early diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia.
Department of General Surgery, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
Bahadır
B
Öz
Department of General Surgery, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
Muhammet
M
Akyüz
Department of General Surgery, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
Ertan
E
Emek
Department of General Surgery, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
Erdoğan
E
Sözüer
Department of General Surgery, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
Hızır
H
Akyıldız
Department of General Surgery, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
Alper
A
Akcan
Department of General Surgery, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
Engin
E
Ok
Acute mesenteric ischemia; contrast-enhanced tomography; gastric tonometry