Intestinal motility monitoring in patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Early diagnosis of infectious complications in patients operated for acute cholecystitis is of vital importance. Monitoring of intestinal motility has high diagnostic value for detection of intraabdominal postoperative complications. Technology of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LCE) needs the same minimally invasive method of peristalsis registration. The method of intestinal motility investigation and appropriate device were created in the Institute. Microphone is fixed on abdominal wall. The work of bowel is measured in units by the following equation: A = integral N(t)d(t). The intestinal motility was studied in 123 patients every 6th hour during 5 days immediately after LCE. Rapid restoration of intestinal motility (during 18-30 hours after LCE) was found in 84 patients with uncomplicated postoperative course. Patients operated for acute cholecystitis had prolonged (24 - 42 hours) period of intestinal motility restoration. Attenuation of intestinal murmurs occurred in 7 patients on the 4th - 5th postoperative days after nearly complete intestinal motility recovery. All of them were reoperated for subhepatic abscesses. Phonometry by the device of original construction is effective non-invasive indirect method for diagnosis of infectious intraabdominal complications in patients after LCE. Its application is feasible in patients operated for acute cholecystitis.