Determining effect of food intake on comprehensive abdominal-pelvic visceral blood flow by Doppler ultrasound

Aim: Comprehensive arterial blood flow (BF) in the abdominal-pelvic viscera (BFVis) can be calculated by subtracting right and left femoral arterial BF (BFRFA and BFLFA, respectively) from upper abdominal aorta BF (BFAo) above the coeliac trunk. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the time course in BFVis and its relation to hemodynamic parameters following food intake using pulsed Doppler ultrasound. Method: Pre- and post-prandial BFAo, BFRFA, and BFLFA were determined in 9 healthy subjects at 5, 15, 30, 45, 65, and 85 min after intake of 800 kcal solid food. The BFVis was calculated by subtracting both BFFAs from BFAo. Blood pressure and heart rate were also measured at each point. Results: An increase was observed in postprandial BFAo at between 15 and 45 min. Postprandial BFRFA increased at 15 min. An increase was observed in postprandial BFVis at 5 min, with the peak value (increase of 887 ml/min compared to value at before food intake) occurring at 15 min; further increase was maintained until 45 min, after which it recovered to pre-food intake values at 85 min. A linear correlation was observed between BFAo and BFVis (r=0.99, P<.0001), as well as between BFAo and both femoral arterial BFs (r=0.91, P<.01). There was no postprandial change in BP or HR. Conclusion: The postprandial BFVis was closely related to BFAo. This suggests that a rise in BFVis indicates an increase in stroke volume, and that BF to the coeliac trunk and superior/inferior mesenteric artery increases due to vasodilation in the splanchnic vascular bed. These results indicate that the type of measurements used in this study may serve as a useful indicator in investigating the time course in BFVis due to food intake.

Duke Scholars

Author Takuya Osada Surgery, Surgical Sciences