title: Effect of prolonged general anesthesia with sevoflurane and laparoscopic surgery on gastric and small bowel propulsive motility and pH in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if general anesthesia with sevoflurane and laparoscopic surgery changed gastric and small bowel propulsive motility or pH in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve, 19-24 months old, female, Treeing Walker Hound dogs, weighing 23-30 kg.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs were anesthetized for a median of 8.5 hours during another study to determine the minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane using a visceral stimulus. Gastric and small bowel motility were determined using a sensor capsule that measures pressure, pH and temperature. Gastric transit time and motility index were calculated. For 8/12 dogs, gastric motility, pH and transit time were measured. In 4/12 dogs, small bowel motility and pH were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anesthesia decreased gastric and small bowel motility but did not change luminal pH. Mean gastric contraction force decreased from median (range) 11 (8-20) to 3 (1-10) mmHg (p < 0.01) and gastric motility index decreased from 0.63 (0-1.58) to 0 (0-0.31; p = 0.01). Frequency of contractions did not change, 3.7 (1.6-4.4) versus 2.8 (0.1-5.1) contractions minute(-1) (p = 0.1). Gastric motility returned to normal 12-15 hours following anesthesia. Gastric emptying was prolonged from 12 (5.3-16) to 49 (9.75-56.25) hours (p < 0.01). Mean small bowel contraction force decreased from 34 (24-37) to 3 (0.9-17) mmHg (p < 0.02) and motility index decreased from 3.75 (1-4.56) to 0 (0-1.53; p = 0.02). Frequency of contractions did not change, 0.5 (0.3-1.4) versus 1.4 (0.3-4.6) contractions minute(-1) (p = 0.11). Small bowel motility returned within 2 hours after anesthesia. Laparoscopy did not result in changes to gastric or small bowel parameters beyond those produced by general anesthesia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The force of gastric and small bowel contractions decreased during sevoflurane anesthesia for laparoscopy. Although gastric motility returned to normal within 12-15 hours the impairment of gastric emptying lasted 30-40 hours, predisposing dogs to postoperative ileus.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boscan
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cochran
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monnet
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Twedt
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000662:veterinary; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D000077149:Sevoflurane
keywords: motility; post-operative ileus; smartpill; stomach; transit time