Assessment of small intestinal health in dogs with foreign body obstructions is commonly pursued using subjective parameters of color, thickness, pulsations, and peristalsis. While this provides insight into macrovascular health, the effect of foreign material and anastomotic techniques on the intestinal microvasculature has not been evaluated. This study evaluated the use of sidestream dark field video microscopy for imaging of the intestinal microvasculature and subsequent quantitation using GlycoCheck software. The intestine of dogs with a non-linear small intestinal foreign body obstruction was interrogated. Quantitative parameters were compared to those from unobstructed intestine. Dogs with subjectively non-viable intestine underwent an anastomosis and microvascular health subjacent to the handsewn or stapled anastomosis was analyzed. This study confirms that GlycoCheck is capable of detecting changes in intestinal microvasculature, with obstructed intestines displaying a lower microvascular density. However, there was no difference in microvascular parameters between subjectively viable tissue that underwent an enterotomy and subjectively non-viable, resected intestine. This may indicate that failure to employ an alternative means for assessing intestinal viability may result in unnecessary resection and increased morbidity in foreign body patients. However, if a resection is necessary, the increased incidence of dehiscence witnessed in dogs with foreign body obstructions should not be attributed to compromise of intestinal microvascular health by the anastomosis technique as long as a traditional handsewn or stapled technique is employed. Ultimately, this is the first study to investigate a qualitative and quantitative method for interrogating intestinal microvascular health, providing the earliest indication of tissue pathology intraoperatively.
