Retrograde electrical pacing of the small intestine—a new treatment for the short bowel syndrome?

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Abstract
Summary: Retrograde electrical pacing has been shown to increase absorption of sodium, glucose and water from a continuously perfused jejunal segment in dogs. Under similar circumstances, absorption of xylose, magnesium, calcium and chloride was also increased by pacing compared with before and after its use (P<0.005). Following massive distal small intestinal resection, dogs undergoing post-cibal retrograde pacing showed an increase in body weight (P<0.005) and a decrease in faecal fat (P<0.005) and nitrogen (P<0.01) losses during the test period, compared with similarly prepared dogs who did not undergo pacing. These results suggest that post-cibal retrograde electrical pacing of the small intestine may have a place in the management of patients with the short bowel syndrome.