Postoperative Motility of the Small Intestine: A Study with Endoradiosondes

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Abstract
The postoperative motility of the small intestine was studied by means of pressure-sensitive endoradiosondes in patients who had undergone abdominal operations with and without enterotomy. The curves recorded were analysed qualitatively and compared with curves from healthy intact control persons. In 9 patients distinct activity was recorded between 20 min and 3 1/2 hours after the operation and in 3 patients between 3 1/2 and 5 1/2 hours postoperatively. No difference was found between cholecystectomized and gastrectomized patients. In a patient who had undergone duodenopancreatectomy, on the other hand, activity was delayed until 16 1/2 hours postoperatively. The initial contraction waves were predominantly of type I, and only in a few cases were type III waves seen. The propulsive motility was studied by following the point of maximal signal strength. After only 1–4 1/2 hours after cholecystectomies and gastric resections this point lay above the symphysis pubis or at the right or left iliac fo...