RELIABILITY OF PERCENT DISTRIBUTION OF POWER OF THE ELECTROGASTROGRAMIN RECOGNIZING GASTRIC ELECTRICAL UNCOUPLING

The aim of this study was to examine the reliability of percent distri bution of electrogastrographic (EGG) power in recognizing gastric elec trical uncoupling. Sixteen anaesthetized dogs underwent laparotomy and implantation of six pairs of stainless-steel wire electrodes. Distal stomach was measured and three sections with approximately equal lengt hs were defined, Two pairs of electrodes were implanted in each sectio n, Eight-channel EGG was also recorded, Three separate half-hour recor dings were made: in the basal state; after a full circumferential sepa ration of the distal antral section from the rest; after a second circ umferential cut completely separating the middle from the proximal sec tions. EGG digital power spectra were split into three frequency range s and dynamics of percent distribution of power was statistically exam ined. After the first cut, changes in the percent distribution of EGG power in the normal range were not significant (p = 0.2), Significant changes in the low range were noted (p < 0.05) and changes in the high range were borderline nonsignificant (p = 0.056). After the second cu t, changes in percent distribution in the normal and the high range be came significant (p < 0.01) while changes in the low range were insign ificant (p = 0.075), Severe uncoupling was reflected in EGG by signifi cant changes in the high-frequency range without internal tachygastria necessarily being present.