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Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Ex Vivo Intestinal Sacs to Assess Mucosal Permeability in Models of Gastrointestinal Disease
Published on: February 9, 2016
Saline volume necessary to achieve predetermined intraluminal pressures during leak testing of small intestinal
Katrin Saile1, Harry W Boothe, Dawn M Boothe
1Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA. ksaile@lsu.edu
Objective:
To determine the volume of saline needed to achieve targeted intraluminal pressures during leak testing of closed jejunal biopsy sites in the dog.
Study Design:
Experimental.
Animals:
Dogs (n=38).
Methods:
Jejunal biopsies in dogs were performed and closed using 3-4 full thickness simple interrupted sutures. Saline volumes needed to achieve 2 predetermined intraluminal pressures (20 and 34 cm water [15 and 25 mmHg]) in a 10 cm canine jejunal segment containing a closed biopsy site using 2 methods of luminal occlusion were recorded.
Results:
The 95% confidence intervals for the volume of saline needed to achieve 20 and 34 cm water intraluminal pressure were 10.9-13.6 and 16.3-19.0 mL, respectively with digital occlusion and 8.5-11.1 and 12.1-14.8 mL, respectively with Doyen occlusion. Correlation between volume of saline instilled and the pressure achieved was 0.76 for digital occlusion and 0.86 for Doyen occlusion.
Conclusion:
Correlation between volume of saline instilled and pressure achieved was greater with Doyen than digital occlusion.
Clinical Relevance:
For canine jejunum, saline volumes of 16.3-19 mL (digital occlusion) and 12.1-14.8 mL (Doyen occlusion) can be used to achieve intraluminal pressures of 34 cm water during leak testing of a 10 cm segment containing a closed biopsy site.

