Enhancement of peritoneal transport in rats by disrupting stagnant fluid films

Dialysate comes into contact with the active membrane and remains in contact until the fluid is refreshed. This design exaggerates stagnant fluid films. Dialysis rate studies were done to evaluate transport when stagnant fluid films were disrupted. Following anesthesia, 30 mL of commercial 1.5% glucose dialysate containing 100 mg% urea and 25 mg% inulin warmed to 37.5 C were instilled. Dialysate was sampled at 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after instillation. Experimental rats were vibrated at 25 Hz throughout the study. Diffusive mass-transfer coefficients (MTC mL/min 1000 cm2) were calculated, and control and vibrated group means were tested for differences using Student's t-test. The mean MTC values for control (n = 10) and vibrated groups (n = 12), respectively, were: urea 0.8 +/- 0.04, 1.4 +/- 0.2, p less than 0.01; glucose 0.4 +/- 0.03, 0.6 +/- 0.03, p less than 0.01; insulin 0.2 +/- 0.01, 0.2 +/- 0.01, p = NS. Disrupting stagnant fluid films augments peritoneal transport.