Continuous laser doppler measurement of rectal blood flow during extracorporal circulation in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery

Introduction: Ischemic colonic complications occur in 2% of patients undergoing open heart surgery. Laser doppler (L.D.) measurement of rectal mucosal flow is a noninvasive method allowing continuous follow up of the microcircualtion in the anastomotic region of the arteria mesenterica inferior – arteria iliaca interna. The aim of our study was to examine and monitor rectal blood flow in different phases of open heart surgery. Patients: after obtaining written informed consent we examined 12 patients (9 males and 3 females), mean age 58.2 years (48–70). All the examinations were performed under standardised cond…