Pancreatic blood flow and contrast enhancement in computed tomography during experimental pancreatitis

The pancreatic blood flow and contrast enhancement in computed tomography (CT) were studied in 10 piglets weighing 17-25 kg with experimental pancreatitis. Each animal served as its own control. CT and blood flow measurements were made both before induction of pancreatitis and 5-6 h after the onset of the disease. Cardiac output was measured by thermodilution, and was kept constant throughout the study by infusion of dextran and saline. Although the pancreatic blood flow remained constant in this experiment, CT showed a significant decrease in contrast enhancement.