Myoelectric motility patterns following open versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic surgery is associated with a lack of postoperative ileus. To determine if differences exist in postoperative motility patterns, 8 dogs were instrumented with bipolar electrodes 10-14 days prior to open (n = 4) or laparoscopic (n = 4) cholecystectomy. In both groups, Phase II activity disappeared in the first 24 h after operation. The appearance of the migrating myoelectric complex in the small intestine and the migrating colonic complex were used as criteria for recovery from postoperative ileus. Postoperative migrating myoelectric complex cycle length, migrating myoelectric complex, migration velocity, and colonic spike bursts/hour were also measured. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in study parameters examined. Postoperative myoelectric motility patterns in dogs undergoing open versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy are not different. Other factors may be responsible for the rapid return to oral intake following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.