GASTROINTESTINAL MYOELECTRICAL ACTIVITY DURING POSTOPERATIVE PERIOD IN MAN

Myoelectrical activity of the gastrointestinal tract was studied in the postoperative period of 13 patients who underwent cholecystectomy. The recordings were performed by means of extracellular electrodes implanted at the levels of stomach, jejunum, ileum and colon during the surgical procedure. The records showed that fast activity is always persistent while the basic electrical rhythm is greatly disorganized during the immediate postoperative period. Such a characteristic pattern of the electrical activity suggested that the lack of peristaltic and propulsive movements, always noted during this period, is not correlated with a disappearance of gastrointestinal contractions, but only with a distrubances in their coordination.