Correlation between Fluorescein Flowmetry and Laser Doppler Flowmetry: A Study in the Intestine (Ileoanal Pouch) in Man

Abstract

A study was undertaken to compare two new methods of capillary blood flow measurement, namely fluorescein flowmetry (FF) and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). The blood flow was measured in a pelvic pouch during its construction and in the completed ileoanal anastomosis in 12 patients. There was a high correlation between the two methods (correlation coefficient, 0.78) (p <0.01) when the blood flow was measured in the pelvic pouch. The correlation coefficient between the two methods for the difference between the blood flow in the pelvic pouch at the site of the planned anastomosis when the pouch resided in the abdomen and that in the completed ileoanal anastomosis was r = 0.99 (n = 12, p< 0.001); the reduction amounted to 25% as measured by FF and 27% as measured by LDF (n = 12, p < 0.01). All ileoanal anastomoses healed perfectly, the lowest FF and LDF values being 0.004 density units/sec and 0.3 V, respectively. The results indicate that either method can be considered for measuring capillary blood flow.

Key Words:

• Fluorescein flowmetry
• ileoanal pouch in man
• intestinal capillary blood flow
• laser Doppler flowmetry