Endoscopic laser Doppler flowmetry in evaluation of human gastric blood flow

The aims of the present study were to evaluate laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) for endoscopic mesasurement of gastric blood flow. The study gave the following results: LDF is a reliable method for continuous measurement of gastrointestinal blood perfusion. This technique can be used endoscopically for measurement of gastric blood flow in conscious man. By means of endoscopic technique, relative blood flow changes can be measured in all parts of the stomach. The recorded blood flow values usually represent blood perfusion in all layers in the gastric wall. A slight contact pressure between the measuring probe and the mucosa is necessary to obtain stable recordings. To heavy pressure provokes reduction of flow values. Angulation of the probe and moderate air insufflation do not interfere with a constant flow level. Endoscopic measurements should be performed with a recording band-width of 4 kHz, since this frequency limit reduces the disturbing signals. Within the range of flow levels recorded in patients and healthy subjects, relative blood flow changes are measured with this band-width. Endoscopic LDF is safe and easy to handle. However, peristalsis and uneasy patients may sometime provoke disturbances which render blood flow measurements impossible. Endoscopic LDF is suitable for clinical studies such as investigation of the effect of drugs on gastric blood flow and examination of local blood flow in patients with gastric diseases