Effect of abdominal surgery on intestinal myoelectric activity in the dog

The effect of cholecystectomy and small bowel transection on the myoelectric activity of the small intestine was determined in conscious dogs. Three animals were implanted with electrodes spaced approximately 25 cm apart along the serosal surface of the small intestine. Recordings were made with dogs in the unanesthetized fasted state. After completion of control recordings, the gallbladder was removed from each animal. Recordings were made each day after surgery for a period of one week and then periodically during the next two weeks. At the end of three weeks, transection and end-to-end anastomosis of the mid-ileum was done. Once again recordings were obtained each day for one week and periodically for two subsequent weeks to insure return to normal fasted patterns. Neither cholecystectomy nor transection and anastomosis had any inhibitory effects of the myoelectric activity of the small intestine.