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Electromyographic activity of the gastrointestinal tract following cholecystectomy

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Abstract

Electromyographic activity of the stomach and small bowel, both in the fasting and fed states, was evaluated in the postoperative period of 8 patients subjected to cholecystectomy. The migrating motor complex (MMC) was recorded on the first postoperative day in 5 patients, on the second day in 2, and on the third day in 1. Vomiting occurred in 1 patient in whom the MMC was recorded only on the third postoperative day. Feeding caused substitution of the MMC by the fed pattern in the stomach and small bowel in all patients. It is concluded from this study that gastric and small bowel motility is normal on the first 2 days of the postoperative period in most patients subjected to cholecystectomy.

Résumé

L'activité électromyographique de l'estomac et de l'intestin grêle, et à jeun et avec aliments, a été évalueée en période postopératoire chez 8 patients ayant eu une cholécystectomie. Le complexe moteur migrateur (MMC) a été retrouvé le premier jour postopératoire chez 5 patients, le deuxième jour chez 2, et le troisième jour chez 1. Des vomissements se sont produits chez le patient chez qui le MMC a été retrouvé seulement au troisième jour postopératoire. Après l'alimentation, l'aspect électromyographique du MMC a été remplacé par un aspect postprandial chez tous les patients. Cette étude a permis de conclure que la motilité de l'estomac et de l'intestin grêle est normale les deux premiers jours de la période postopératoire chez la plupart des patients qui ont eu une cholécystectomie.

Resumen

La actividad electromiográfica del estómago y del intestino delgado fue valorada en el estado de ayuno y después de haber ingerido 200 ml de leche durante el período postoperatorio en 8 mujeres sometidas a colecistectomia. El tracto gastrointestinal del ser humano exhibe 2 patrones característicos de motilidad, uno en el estado de ayuno, el complejo motor migratorio (CMM), y el que ocurre con la ingesta de alimentos, el patrón de alimentación. La ingesta de alimentos hace que el CMM sea sustituído por un patron no cíclico de picos intermitentes de potenciales que persisten durante todo el período postprandial, el denominado patrón de alimentación.

El complejo motor migratorio normal fue registrado en el primer día postoperatorio en 5 pacientes, en el segundo día en 2, y en el tercer día en 1. Se presentó vómito en una paciente en quien el CMM fue registrado sólo hasta el tercer día postoperatorio. La alimentación causó la sustitución del CMM por el patrón de alimentación en el estómago y en el intestino delgado en la totalidad de las pacientes. La conclusión del presente estudio es que la motilidad del estómago y del intestino delgado es normal en los primeras 2 días de la fase postoperatoria en las mayoría de los pacientes sujetos a colecistectomía.

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Supported in part by FINEP grant no. 42.87.0752.00 and CNPq grant no. 40.1310-86.

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Coelho, J.C.U., Pupo, C.A., Campos, A.C.L. et al. Electromyographic activity of the gastrointestinal tract following cholecystectomy. World J. Surg. 14, 523–527 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01658682

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