Abstract
Due to the almost miraculous recovery of the intestinal wall in cases of ileus after surgical relief of mechanical obstruction as well as the recovery of the intestinal wall in certain forms of mesenteric thrombosis after simple enterostomy, this investigation was undertaken to demonstrate what changes, if any, may occur following simple mechanical obstruction in the various tissues of the intestinal wall.
Simple mechanical ileus of the terminal ileum was produced in 11 rabbits. At varying postoperative intervals (12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours), the rabbits were sacrificed, and sections from 3 different levels of the ileum were removed—1 cm., 10 cm., and 20 cm. proximal to the obstructing ligature. Sufficient intestine was removed from each level to obtain 10 specimens for immediate fixation, making a total of 30 gross sections from each animal. For controls, sections were removed also from a normal rabbit corresponding to the different levels mentioned above.
Gross lesions observed postoperatively were: After 12 hours, ileum proximal to the obstruction was reddish in color and on section some blood was seen in the lumen. 24 hours: Slight distention of the terminal ileum; lumen filled with liquid intestinal contents; very few gross changes were evident. 36 hours: Distention of the terminal ileum; few ecchymotic spots in the mucous membrane; intestines filled with liquid feces. 48 hours: Marked distention of ileum with considerable congestion; contents yellow watery fluid; ecchymotic areas in mucosa near the obstruction. 72 hours: Marked distention, especially just above the obstruction, and containing much yellowish-red fluid, with marked congestion of the ileum and minute mucosal hemorrhages. Thrombosis of mesenteric vessels were never observed.
Staining methods used were: Hematoxylin and eosin, Gram's stain, Verhoeff's stain, Mallory's phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin, Laidlaw's lithium silver stain, Foot-Mènard's ammonium silver stain, Müller's osmic acid stain, Masson's trichrome, Ramon y Cajal's Formula 3a and Formula 6a.
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