Early Postoperative Gastrointestinal Activity

Rothnie, N. G.; Harper, R. A. Kemp; Catchpole, B. N.

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(63)90064-3

Cited by 112 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…It is clear from previous studies (Wells et al, 1964;Rothnie et al, 1963) It has been repeatedly stated in the past that the duration of postoperative ileus is proportional to the severity of the surgical trauma and also to the type of operation (Neely, 1969;Aird, 1957). It was therefore surprising to find that the length of operation had little or no effect on the duration of colonic stasis in this series.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

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Postoperative motility of the large intestine in man.

Wilson¹

1975

Gut

139

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SUMMARY Motor activity of the colon in the immediate postoperative period has been studied in human subjects using radiotelemetering capsules, radioopaque markers and serial abdominal radiographs.Following operations outside the abdomen there is a delay of about 16 hours before colonic activity returns. After abdominal operations the delay is from 40 to 48 hours.The length of an operation has no significant effect upon the duration of colonic ileus. The amount of postoperative analgesia has no significant effect upon the duration of colonic ileus. Gaseous distension after laparotomy is confined to the colon.It is well recognized that following operation the motility of the gastrointestinal tract is temporarily impaired. At times this is more prolonged and, if associated with gaseous distension, develops into paralytic ileus. It has been shown in experimental animals that the activity of the small intestine returns to normal within a few hours following surgery (Tinckler, 1965;Baker and Webster, 1968). Early return of activity has also been shown in man using a radiotelemetering capsule (Ross, Watson, and Kay, 1963 (Nachlas, Younis, Roda, and Wityk, 1972;Neely, 1968). Most of these studies have been radiological observations of barium in the gastrointestinal tract, and, althoughthestudies have been primarily directed at the stomach, most workers have observed that barium is also held up in the colon. Study of the colon has not been taken further than this one observation.The present study investigates in more detail the motor behaviour of the colon in the postoperative

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Studies of the stomach in the postoperative period (Rothnie, Harper, and Catchpole, 1963;Wells, Tinckler, Rawlinson, Jones, and Saunders, 1964) have demonstrated a period of inertia lasting from 24 to 72 hours depending on the type of operation. These findings have been confirmed repeatedly (Nachlas, Younis, Roda, and Wityk, 1972;Neely, 1968).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Postoperative motility of the large intestine in man.

Wilson¹

1975

Gut

139

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“…1963;Wells et al 1964). If gastrograffin is placed in the stomach immediately post-operatively it collects in the fundus while the patient remains supine, but it flows freely into the duodenum if the patient is placed at an angle of 45" (Rothnie et al 1963). This implies, that the pylorus does not act as a physical barrier to the flow of gastric contents, and that delayed gastric emptying is likely to arise as a result of disordered motor activity.…”

Section: Bowel Soundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Small-intestinal gas shadows are not usually seen post-operatively , but progressive colonic gas shadows are often seen in the first 48 h (Rothnie et al 1963;Wells et al 1964;Nachlas et al 1972;Wilson, 1975). As intestinal gas is mainly derived from swallowed air, this would imply that there must be some kind of propulsive activity in the small NUTRITIONAL ASPECTS O F RECOVERY FROM SEVERE ILLNESS intestine.…”

Section: Small Intestinementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most studies of small-intestinal transit in POI have examined progression of barium or gastrograffin from the stomach to the colon, but much of the observed delay could be accountable to the delayed gastric emptying. Rothnie et al (1963) placed barium capsules in the duodenum at surgery in six patients, and 24 h later the barium had reached the colon in all of the patients. This finding has been repeated in another study, where barium was put either into the stomach or into the duodenum of patients undergoing gastroduodenal surgery (Nachlas et al 1972).…”

Section: Small Intestinementioning

confidence: 99%

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