[Electromyographic and histologic evaluation of intestinal viability]

Myoelectrical small bowel activity was measured intraoperatively with two serosal electrodes in two groups of patients. 16 patients operated electively for other indications than bowel ischaemia and 10 with small bowel ileus with symptoms of ischaemia. In later cases necrotic bowel was resected. Resected ischaemic bowel was submitted to histological examination and changes in intramural neurones were assessed. Areas of mild, moderate and severe ischaemia were compared to unchanged bowel. Both amplitude and frequency of slow waves in ischaemic bowel was markedly diminished corresponding well with changes in bowel histology. Intraoperative measurements of intestine myoelectrical activity might help a surgeon to estimate a bowel viability.