The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of fluorescein as an indicator of intestinal viability under schemic processes induced by A-V ligature during 120 minutes. Ten mixed-breed horses, 6 males and 4 females, with an average weight and age of 293kg and 11 years, respectively were submitted to two surgeries, one to make the ligatures and to observe the effects of fluorescein; the second, 24 hours later, to confirm macroscopically the information obtained during the first. The surgical approach was made through the abdominal midline and a 20cm long segment of the small intestine was exteriorized. After the ischemic period the ligatures were removed and the intestinal segment was evaluated for tissue viability by the systemic injection of 100mg/B.W. of sodic fluorescein. The results revealed that sodicfluorescein is a good and safe indicator of intestinal viability.
equine; small intestine; surgery; fluorescein