Postoperative colonic motility increases after early food intake in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.
BACKGROUND
Stimulation of colonic motility by the gastrocolonic response may help to reduce inhibition of gastrointestinal motility after colorectal surgery. We aimed to investigate whether postoperative colonic motility is increased after early food intake.


METHODS
Nineteen patients undergoing colorectal surgery and 7 healthy volunteers were investigated. Colonic motility was recorded with a combined manometry/barostat system, and the effect of a standard 500-kcal meal was evaluated once in healthy volunteers and in 15 patients on the first and second postoperative day. Four patients remained unfed, serving as controls.


RESULTS
In patients, the colonic motility index increased from 12 +/- 5 at baseline to 65 +/- 24 mm Hg after the meal on postoperative day 1 (mean +/- SEM; P < .01), while barostat bag volumes decreased, indicating a rise in colonic tone. On day 2, the motility index was 62 +/- 17 mm Hg at baseline and did not change after the meal. In unfed controls, no change was observed during colonic motility recordings on both postoperative days. In healthy volunteers, the colonic motility index increased from 98 +/- 52 at baseline to 151 +/- 58 mm Hg postprandially (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
As in healthy volunteers, there is a potential to stimulate colonic motility by early food intake in postoperative patients. This may help to improve prolonged colonic motility disorders after colorectal surgery.
Kasparek
Michael S
MS
Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen Germany.
Mueller
Mario H
MH
Glatzle
Jörg
J
Enck
Paul
P
Becker
Horst D
HD
Zittel
Tilman T
TT
Kreis
Martin E
ME
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012016:Reference Values; D012086:Reoperation; D013997:Time Factors