[An experimental study of gastrointestinal motility during chronic large bowel obstruction]

Gastrointestinal motility and plasma PYY levels were investigated under chronic progressive large bowel obstruction in dogs. The obstruction device was applied around the descending colon at a laparotomy and gastrointestinal motility was recorded with strain gauge force transducers in the conscious state. Complete obstruction occurred at 26 days (21-33 days). The duration of postprandial interruption of motor complex (DIMC) in the antrum and duodenum were prolonged progressively, at partial obstruction (17.7 +/- 2.7 hr; p less than 0.05) and complete obstruction (23.0 +/- 4.0 hr; p less than 0.01) vs in control (13.7 +/- 1.9 hr), while DIMC in the small bowel showed no significant changes. Progressive obstruction caused hypermotility in the proximal colon to the obstruction and hypomotility in the distal colon. These dysmotility were improved after resection of the obstructed segment and anastomosis. Plasma PYY levels in the fasting state showed no significant increase at complete obstruction (42.6 +/- 14.5 pmol/l) vs in control (32.9 +/- 10.2 pmol/l).