Abstract
The intestinal loop devised by Thiry 1 and modified by Vella 2 has been used by numerous workers in studying the absorption of various materials from the intestine. Either the original method or its modification permitted observation of qualitative changes in the introduced material in an unanesthetized animal. Furthermore, the loop is more or less permanent and permits repeated experiments on the same animal under similar and varying conditions.
The Thiry loop has one fistulous opening on the anterior abdominal wall while the Vella modification consists of a fistulous opening at each end of the intestinal loop. The chief objection to either of these methods is the inability to prevent leakage. In an attempt to overcome this difficulty Gumilewski 3 placed rubber balloons in both ends of a Thiry-Vella loop. One balloon served as a plug while the other was penetrated by a short rubber tube which permitted filling and emptying of the loop. Modifications of the Gumilewski method have been used by Nagano, 4 Cobet, 5 and White and Rabinowitch. 6 The Gumilewski technique has 2 definite disadvantages. A single balloon placed within the loop has a tendency to be drawn in or pushed out by peristalsis, and it is difficult to anchor the balloons sufficiently to make an effective seal. With a short tube in the end of the loop the fluid tends to pocket in segments making complete emptying almost impossible. Loops prepared by the old Thiry technique, in which the gut is brought through the abdominal wall, have a tendency to prolapse through the fistulous opening. In order to obviate certain of the difficulties of the older methods we have modified the technique both from the standpoint of the method of making the loop and of sealing it for studies of a quantitative character.
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