EFFECTS OF PROSTAGLANDIN-F2-ALPHA AND CISAPRIDE ON SMALL-INTESTINAL ACTIVITY DURING THE EARLY POSTOPERATIVE PERIOD IN HUMANS

The relationship between intestinal motor activity and the influence o f prostaglandin F(2)alpha (PGF) and cisapride were investigated during the early postoperative period in 26 patients who underwent abdominal surgery. Records of intestinal motility were made using an infusion c atheter, PGF, 0.4 mu g/kg per minute, given intravenously over 60 min, and cisapride, 5 mg, given intraintestinally, were administered to 13 patients each, first immediately after the operation, and then after the migrating motor complexes (MMCs) had reappeared following a period of intestinal quiescence. The MMCs were reestablished within the firs t postoperative day, Both PGF and cisapride stimulated irregular, high -amplitude contractions; however, the MMCs reappeared following these induced contractions only if the drugs were administered just after th e postoperative MMCs became evident. These prokinetic drugs did not af fect gastrointestinal hormone concentrations, but induced contractile activity even in the early postoperative period. Although the findings of this study demonstrate that these drugs may be useful as prokineti c agents to promote recovery from postoperative ileus just after the r eappearance of MMCs in the early postoperative period, their precise m ode of action has not been established.