Bacteriology, Spectrophotometry. and Toxicity in Strangulation Intestinal Obstruction

THIS report is a summary of current progress in our studies of experimental strangulation obstruction, and extends recent investigations by Cohn and associates. Changes in the intestinal bacterial flora and studies of peritoneal fluid toxicity in experimental strangulation obstruction in rabbits have pointed to a major role for clostridial toxins. The bacterial changes in guinea pigs and dogs have been examined similarly with the thought that uniform lethal pathways might exist in different animal species with strangulation obstruction.

Guinea Pigs

The intestine was occluded with umbilical tape approximately 10 cm. proximal to the ileocecal junction. A 7 cm. segment proximal to the obstruction was strangulated by ligating the venous supply to this segment and the vessels parallel to the intestine at the proximal end of the segment. At death the contents of the intestine proximal to the obstruction were aspirated and cultured.

Bacteriology.—The bacterial genera most frequently isolated from the