Kind of research: basic research in fundamental sciences.
Study-design: multicentric, randomized, operator- and evaluator-blinded, experimental study.
Questions asked: In this study we want to examine if physiological changes can be perceived after the normalization of a viscus; more specifically: if a mobilization of the mesentery has an influence upon the capacity of the portal vein.

 

Researchers: Pierre Dillies, Francis Inghelbrecht and Eric Dobbelaere (Belgium); Arjan van Emmerik and Robert Dekker (The Netherlands). Both studies are finished and the first is available by CORPP
Project leader: Patrick van Dun

 

 

 

Patrick van Dun (1) , P. Dillies (2), E. Dobbelaere (2), F. Inghelbrecht (2), P. Van Eeghem (3), L. Steyaert (4), E. Danse (5), Y. Rosseel (6)

Objective: In this study we wanted to examine if physiological changes can be perceived after the normalisation of a viscus; more specifically: if a mobilisation of the mesentery has an influence upon the capacity of the portal vein.

 

Material and methods: Thirty healthy adults (n = 30; age: 20–45) have been selected according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, and we placed them at random in two equal groups, a mobilization technique group and a non-specific technique group.
In this research we inserted three measuring moments: a first measurement before the beginning of the mobilisation technique or the non-specific technique, a second one immediately after having applied a technique, and a third one 60 minutes later. At each of these three moments, the diameter of the portal vein, the velocity of the blood flow and the capacity of the portal vein were established. The patients and the radiologists as well have been blinded.
With the 15 probants of the mobilization group, the mesentery had been mobilized with regard to its radix. With the 15 subjects of the non-specific technique group, the iliopsoas muscle had been stretched. Inclusion factors were male, BMI between 20–27 and an empty stomach. Exclusion factors were female, medication that influences blood flow such as anti-hypertensive medication, alcohol consumption > 60 gram/day, inflammatory diseases and heart- and liver pathology. These patients were at random divided in two equal groups (n = 15) and were subjected to either mobilisation of the mesentery or a non-specific technique.
The portal flow was examined with color doppler ultrasound ATL (a Philips, type ATL, HDI 5000, Bothell, USA with a Doppler center frequency of 2,5 MHZ was used by both operators). The statistical analysis were performed by ‘GLM – Repeated Measures’ procedure of SPSS statistic software.

 

Results: The mean portal flow of both groups before interference was 755,71 ml/min; SD = 176,57 (non-specific group) and 764,38; SD = 359,53 (mobilization group), immediately after intervention 878,05 ml/min; SD = 227,07 (non-specific group) and 1079,04 ml/min; SD = 374,24 (mobilization group). ± 1 hour after intervention, the mean portal flow was 751,51 ml/min; SD = 246,40 (non-specific group) and 1039,87 ml/min; SD = 281,43 (mobilization group).

 

Conclusion: A multivariate analysis shows a significantly higher capacity (F(1,28) = 4,726; p = 0,038) of the portal vein after the mobilization of the mesentery.

 

(1) Academic Director College Sutherland for Osteopathic Medicine, Wiesbaden  (Germany); co-founder of CORPP (Commission for Osteopathic Research, Practice and Promotion).

(2) Belgian College of Osteopathy (CBO, Belgium) 
(3) Department of Gastro-Enterology, Academic Hospital Groeninge, Kortrijk (Belgium)
(4) Department of Radiology, Academic Hospital, Sint-Jan Brugge (Belgium)
(5) Department of Radiology, University Hospital , Saint-Luc, Brussel (Belgium)
(6) Data-analysis-group, Faculty of Psychology and Pedagogic Sciences, University of Gent (Belgium)