ORTHOTOPIC LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION IMPROVES SMALL-BOWEL MOTILITY DISORDERS IN CIRRHOTIC-PATIENTS

Altered small intestinal motility has been observed in patients with l iver cirrhosis, Its pathophysiology remains to be defined, Our aim was to investigate the effect of orthotopic liver transplantation on smal l intestinal dysmotility in patients with liver disease, Two patients were studied both before and after orthotopic liver transplantation. A bnormal migrating motor complex activity and prominent clustered contr actions present preoperatively normalized within 6 months after the su rgical procedure, This finding might represent an additional benefit o f liver transplantation considering that altered motility may be invol ved in bacterial overgrowth and infections observed in these patients.