DUPLEX-DOPPLER EVALUATION OF INTESTINAL PERISTALSIS IN PATIENTS WITH BOWEL OBSTRUCTION

Duplex-Doppler was used to visualize intestinal peristalsis in 30 pati ents with intestinal distension. The series included 12 patients with acute mechanical obstruction, 13 with long-standing mechanical obstruc tion, and five with paralytic ileus. The Duplex-Doppler recordings sho wed several patterns characterized by different degrees of intensity a nd frequency of the signals according to the type of obstruction, its duration, and the site of Doppler sampling relative to the obstructed segment. Duplex-Doppler evaluation provided both qualitative and quant itative data about intenstinal peristalsis, allowing differentation be tween mechanical and paralytic ileus. The visualization of intestinal segments having different degrees of peristaltic activity proved usefu l in localizing the site of mechanical obstruction.