Abstract
Electrical activity of the digestive tract of human has been studied using small bipolar Ag-AgCl needle electrode. The subjects studied were 111 patients operated upon in our department. The electrodes were sewn into the gastrointestinal wall muscle under the serosa at the time of various abdominal operations . The lead wires of electrodes were brought out through an incision in the abdominal wall.
Action potentials from the stomach, duodenum, choledochoduodenal junction, jejunum, ileum, gall bladder and colon of these patients were recorded for 1 to 22 days after operation. All recordings were made in the ward with a 2-channel DC amplifier with ink writers. The electrodes were removed by pulling them out after recording. All experiments mentioned above could be performed without any complications.
Peculiar discharge pattern of action potential was observed on different site of the gastrointestinal tract. Electrical activity of the residual stomach after various gastrectomies, electrical response of the digestive tracts to the electrical stimulation through the electrodes and influence of food loading were observed and discussed.
It is considered that the research method mentioned above is a useful technique for studying pathophysiology of the human gastrointestinal motility.
