black light for bowel cases

[mcmike55]

Anyone got some info. The other day, we were doing a bowel case and the doc wanted to inject the pt with flouracin, or something like that.

After a short circulation period, we were going to turn on a black light and watch for holes and circulation.

I remember a couple of years ago, at a seminar in Pittsburgh Pa, they talked about using flourecent meds and black light to locate dead bowel.

I know flouracene (?sp) for eye cases, but not sure if there is an injectable form to use like this.

Any input???????????

[shodobe]

This is interesting. I have never heard of this but will ask some of my surgeons about it. Maybe a search on the web about the subject. mike

[mcmike55]

Thanks for the help shodobe, I was hoping you and/or stevie would catch this. I really like reading your threads.

At that seminar, I saw actual photos they took in a lab using pigs. The healthy bowel glowed, but when you got to dead bowel it went dark.

This was part of a lecture where they were doing low pressure laparaoscopies AT THE BEDSIDE, in ICU, on possible septic pts'.

The ideas was to take a peek and help them decide to go to the OR or not.

They had a black light filter, I think, and shot it thru the scope.

It was very interesting.

Almost as interesting as the terrorism seminar that I was there for in the first place, but that's another story for another time.

[VizslaMom]

I saw it done in a few open belly cases at my hospital when I worked OR. Really neat actually.

The dead bowel remains dark. The part that is alive glows in the dark because the dye is able to be circulated in that part of the bowel.

Haven't heard of it being done laparoscopically in ICU patients though. I'm very interested in that. I can think of a few ICU pts. we could have used that on.

[mcmike55]

Viz

Yeah, the pictures I saw were quite interesting.

One of our nurses remembers doing it at our hospital. The problem is no one else remembers.

What kind of dye do you use??

Anyone???

[shodobe]

It is "flouroscein"(sp). I did talk with one of my surgeons who remembers the procedure years ago, but doesn't have much faith in it. She still likes to get her hands on the problem. Interesting concept though and I can see why it would work. Mike

[jwk]

Fluoroscein dye is a neat trick. We used to use it for determining if flaps were being perfused (free flaps or pedicle flaps). It's the same dye used in the little paper strips you touch to the eye so that you can visualize corneal abrasions.

[mcmike55]

On the black light, bowel perfusion issue.

We just today got the medication.

It's called AK-FLUOR (fluorescein) injectable

there are two strengths 10% & 25%.

The company we got it from is AKORN in Buffalo Grove Il.

If and/or when we use it, I'll let you know.

Now I guess it's time for a trip to Spencers' to buy a small black light :chuckle

Thanks to you all for your input. Mike

[renerian, BSN, RN]

Interesting. Good thread.

renerian :)

[renerian, BSN, RN]

Interesting. Good thread.

renerian :)