Automated digital analysis of propagated contractions recorded during fasting using high resolution small intestinal...

Manometry, the gold standard for evaluating phasic contractions in the alimentary tract, relies heavily on qualitative pattern recognition, despite generating large volumes of data. Our aim was to develop an automated detection tool that can quantify fundamental manometric events in high-resolution small bowel manometry tracings by assessing their parameters. Digitally identified propagated contractile events (PCEs) are compared to manual analysis; the system achieved 86% accuracy and 91% precision. Utilizing this automated system, we analyzed approximately 30 h of manometry recordings gathered from 10 healthy subjects. The velocity of fully propagated PCEs is significantly faster, and there was a significant decrease in the frequency of the PCEs following phase III activity. We conclude that computer vision-based automated evaluation of PCEs may improve our understanding of fasting intestinal motility in both health and disease.