AMBULATORY MOTILITY PATTERNS OF THE TRANSPOSED SHORT SEGMENT COLON

Ambulatory manometry and pH-metry were performed on 10 asymptomatic pa tients who had undergone lower oesophageal replacement with the left h emicolon between two and 20 years previously. Recording of the ambient pH in the intrathoracic colon was carried out simultaneously. In ever y patient the recording, which lasted approximately eight hours, inclu ded upright, supine, prandial, and postprandial periods. The results w ere analysed both visually and by computer. The emerging motility patt erns showed three basic types of wave, based on amplitudes - low ampli tude contractions (LAC) measuring <60 mm Hg, medium amplitude contract ions (MAC) of 60-100 mm Hg, and high amplitude contractions (HAC) of 1 00-200 mm Hg. Additional subtypes were identified in the LACs and MACs . Using software primarily designed for oesophageal motility, the prop ortion of propulsive (6%-55%) waves could be distinguished from simult aneous or mixed waves, or both. A proportion of propulsive waves was n oted in patients who had undergone surgery 10 or more years previously . It is concluded that the transposed colon retains its normal motilit y pattern but some adaptation to its new location may occur in the lon g term.