Angiographic patterns in experimental obstruction of the small bowel.

Mechanical obstruction of the small intestine was induced in 79 rabbits. Ligation and/or fixation of an intestinal loop with sutures was performed in order to produce simple obstruction, strangulation, intussusception and volvulus. The obstructed loop and the adjacent segments of the bowel were examined with microscopic, microangiographic and angiographic methods at fixed time intervals of 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours. Dynamics of arterial changes in the intestinal wall and mesentery were investigated. Angiographic patterns of obstruction in the exteriorized loop of a living animal are described. These findings may be of value in evaluating clinical cases.