Myoelectric activity of an ileal isoperistaltic or antiperistaltic loop interposed between colon and rectum: An experimental study in pigs

The myoelectric activity of 25-30 cm ileal loops interposed isoperistaltically or antiperistaltically between colon and rectum was investigated 1-3 and 20-22 weeks after surgery, in growing pigs chronically fitted with intraparietal electrodes on the loop and the ileum. The fundamental motor profile of the small intestine consisting of migrating myoelectric complexes (MMC) was present on both loops; the MMCs were propagated on the antiperistaltic loop in the original anatomical direction. There was no coordination between the occurrence of phase 3 on the loop and the ileum. Some minor differences concerning the duration, the frequency and the velocity of propagation of phase 3 were observed between the loops and the ileum. Moreover propagated clusters of spike bursts and propagated long duration spike bursts appeared on the isoperistaltic and antiperistaltic loop, respectively, but not on the ileum. No prominent differences in the motor profiles of the loops have been observed between 1-3 and 20-22 weeks after surgery. It is concluded that despite the presence of semisolid contents with an abundant microflora the fundamental intestinal motor profile persists in ileal loops interposed between colon and rectum.