Prolonged ambulatory duodeno-jejunal manometry in humans: normal values and gender effect.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to provide a detailed comparison of motor activity in the duodenum and jejunum and between men and women studied by prolonged ambulatory manometry.


METHODS
Thirty healthy volunteers (17 males) underwent prolonged ambulatory recording of duodeno-jejunal motility using a catheter with five built-in strain-gauge transducers (two duodenal and three jejunal). Manometric data was obtained during an extended period of fasting, the postprandial period and during sleep.


RESULTS
There was a wide range of durations of the migrating motor complex (MMC), but at least one phase III was detected during 6 h of fasting, or 6 h of sleep in each subject (0.52+/-0.04 phase III/hour during fasting vs 0.59+/-0.04 during sleep, p=0.1). There was marked variation in the duration and pattern of phase III. Postprandially, frequency of contractions and motility index were maximal in the first 2 h after the meal, in both the duodenum and jejunum. There were no substantive differences between males and females or between the duodenum and jejunum.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that upper small bowel motility is little affected by gender or segment.
Soffer
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Department of Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, USA.
Thongsawat
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Ellerbroek
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004386:Duodenum / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D007583:Jejunum / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013997:Time Factors; D014159:Transducers