Duodenal motility is not affected during duodenotomy in pigs

The effects of surgical procedures on intestinal motility are still under debate. In order to quantify the effects of duodenotomy on duodenal motility, the present study used the electric impedance technique (IMP). Ten pigs (32-40 kg) were instrumented under general anaesthesia with a central venous catheter (CVC) and a percutaneous enterogastrostomy (PEG). Duodenal phases I-III and the duration of the migrating motor complex (MMC) were measured by an IMP catheter, which was introduced non-invasively into the proximal duodenum via the PEG by endoscopy, or through surgical placement in an invasive manner via duodenotomy. There were no significant differences in the length of interdigestive phases I-III between the groups. In tendency, pigs after laparotomy and duodenotomy demonstrated slightly prolonged median duration of phase I (P = 0.1) and phase III (P = 0.7), while phase II (P = 0.1) and the MMC cycle length (P = 0.6) seemed to be shortened as compared to pigs of the PEG group. In conclusion, simple laparotomy with duodenotomy did not affect the proximal duodenal motility activity measured by the impedance technique.