A new model to study intestinal ischemia-reperfusion damage in man.

BACKGROUND: This report describes a human in vivo ischemia reperfusion (IR) model of the small intestine. Animal models of intestinal IR are indispensable for our understanding of sequelae of IR induced organ damage. However, a functional experimental IR model of the human small intestine, allowing for translational research, can be considered critical for our pathophysiologic understanding of intestinal IR in man. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with a healthy gut undergoing abdominal surgery with a Roux-Y or similar reconstruction were included, creating the opportunity to study IR of an isolated jejunal segment in a harmless model. RESULTS: Ischemia was induced by nontraumatic vascular clamping followed by reperfusion. This model can be adapted using variable ischemia and reperfusion times. Similarly, tissue and plasma can be collected at any given time point during ischemia until end of reperfusion, only determined by progress of the original, intended surgical procedure. CONCLUSION: A unique and harmless human IR model of the jejunum was created, which enables the study of acute damage to the epithelial lining and its subsequent repair mechanisms.