GASTRIC MYOELECTRIC AND MOTOR-ACTIVITY IN DOGS WITH GASTRIC DILATATION-VOLVULUS

Electrical and contractile properties of the stomach were assessed in six adult dogs after recovery from surgical treatment for gastric dila tation-volvulus (GDV), a disorder characterized by delayed gastric emp tying of the solid phase. Electrodes and strain-gauge force transducer s were sutured to the serosa of the antrum and pylorus at the time of surgical intervention for GDV. Ten days after implantation, electrical and mechanical activities were recorded before and after a standardiz ed meal. The analog FM tape recordings of the electrical and mechanica l signals were converted to digital time series for analysis by comput er. Recordings from dogs after GDV showed increased slow wave propagat ion velocity in both the fasting and the fed states compared with cont rols. In addition, the GDV dogs had atypical fasting state phase III a ctivity fronts. We found no difference in gastric slow wave frequency, dysrhythmia, or electromechanical coupling between the two groups. Th ese results indicate that delayed gastric emptying in this syndrome is associated with increased gastric slow wave propagation velocity.