Beneficial effects of prostaglandin E₁ on ischemic colitis following surgery on the abdominal aorta

To determine the effects of prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁) on the intestinal circulation, an experimental dog model of ischemic colitis following abdominal aortic reconstruction was made by ligating the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and the internal lilac artery, with the creation of a 50% stenosis in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). The parameters of enteric ischemia included the blood flow of the SMA, the tissue blood flow in the small intestine and left colon, the mean stump pressure of the IMA (IMAP), and the IMAP/mean systemic blood pressure ratio. With the continuous infusion of 10 ng/kg per minute of PGE₁ into the descending thoracic aorta, these values increased significantly on the seventh postoperative day compared with those on the day of operation. These results thus suggest that the continuous intraarterial infusion of PGE₁ may reduce ischemic changes in the colon following abdominal aortic reconstruction.