Effect of 50% distal small bowel resection on gastric emptying in Rhesus monkeys

The effect of bowel resection, sufficient to cause gastric secretory changes, on gastric emptying is unknown. Gastric evacuation was characterized in 8 Rhesus monkeys by a modification of George's double sampling test meal. Fifty per cent distal small bowel resection was then performed. Gastric emptying was again studied at 6 weeks and 6 months. The rate constant fell from -0.00289 +/- 0.000467 (+/-1 SEM) to -0.00232 +/- 0.00106 during the early phase, but role to -0.00308 +/- 0.00186 by 6 months, neither value being statistically different from the preoperative values. T1/2 rose from 125.2 +/- 19.2 mins to 367 +/- 173.4 mins by 6 weeks and to 380.9 +/- 161.6 mins by the end of the experiments. Corresponding values for T were: control period 425.8 +/- 63.2 mins, early phase 1223 +/- 589 mins and late phase 1245.9 +/- 529.6 mins. None of these changes were statistically significant. Alterations in emptying time within each animal were consistent at the two postoperative phases. Although the two animals showing acceleration of evacuation were those with least change in secretion, compensation for the observed increase in output of gastric juice did not materially alter the results.