Morphological and Chemical Studies of the Blood in Chronic Duodenal Obstruction.

Abstract

In the following report we wish to describe our observations of the blood changes in dogs with experimentally produced chronic duodenal obstruction. In the 12 dogs which were studied, the obstruction existed for periods extending from 2 months to 13 months. In previous communications¹ we described the changes in motility, the marked stasis and the great increase in intestinal bacteria in the duodenum, above the site of the obstruction. The types of organisms were those usually encountered in the intestine of dogs, i. e., B. coli, Enterococci and B. welchii. The influence of this prolonged stasis upon the blood was determined by frequent hemoglobin determinations, red and white cell counts, differential counts, and chemical analyses. In addition, gastric analyses were made, especially for the presence of free HCl.

All of the dogs developed a secondary anemia of variable intensity. The maximum drop in red cells ranged between one million and two and one-half million. The hemoglobin index was always below one. There were frequent remissions during which the red cell count was normal. The leucocyte count was too irregular to be significant. The morphology of the erythrocytes remained practically unaltered; occasionally a few normoblasts and a slight anisocytosis were observed in the smears. Free HCl was always present in the gastric contents.

The chemical examination of the Mood included urea nitrogen, chlorides and carbon dioxide conibining power. Examinations were made when the dogs were free of any symptoms. Figures which were obtained during or after periods of vomiting or shortly before death were excluded. The only significant finding was an increase in urea nitrogen. However, the variations in the urea nitrogen of a series of normal dogs observed over a prolonged period were approximately the same as those with duodenal obstruction. 2