Orthotopic liver transplantation improves small bowel motility disorders in cirrhotic patients.
Altered small intestinal motility has been observed in patients with liver cirrhosis. Its pathophysiology remains to be defined. Our aim was to investigate the effect of orthotopic liver transplantation on small intestinal dysmotility in patients with liver disease. Two patients were studied both before and after orthotopic liver transplantation. Abnormal migrating motor complex activity and prominent clustered contractions present preoperatively normalized within 6 months after the surgical procedure. This finding might represent an additional benefit of liver transplantation considering that altered motility may be involved in bacterial overgrowth and infections observed in these patients.
Madrid
A M
AM
University of Chile, University Hospital, Gastroenterology Unit, Santiago.
Brahm
J
J
Buckel
E
E
Silva
G
G
Defilippi
C
C
D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D001424:Bacterial Infections; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000503:physiopathology; D016065:Myoelectric Complex, Migrating / Q000502:physiology; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000502:physiology