ELECTROGASTROGRAPHY CAN RECOGNIZE GASTRIC ELECTRICAL UNCOUPLING IN DOGS

Background & Aims: Electrical uncoupling is the lack of electrical syn chronization in different parts of the stomach. The ability of electro gastrography (EGG) to recognize gastric electrical uncoupling has not been adequately studied, The aim of this study was to determine the im pact on EGG of surgically introduced gastric uncoupling in anesthesize d dogs. Methods: Six pairs of bipolar electrodes were inserted into th e antral gastric wall of 16 anesthetized dogs at laparotomy, Eight-cha nnel bipolar cutaneous EGGs were simultaneously recorded. Three separa te half-hour recordings were made from each dog in the basal state and after each of two circumferential cuts of all gastric muscle. The sto mach was divided into three equally sized areas, each with an electrod e pair in its anterior and posterior walls, Gastric electrical activit y was assessed visually. EGG was digitized and processed by computer, Results: Criteria for EGG normality were defined from 9 dogs with norm al gastric electrical activity, After the first antral cut, internal r ecordings from the area below the division were at a lower frequency a nd often irregular, The second cut produced three different frequencie s, Suggested criteria for normality allowed correct recognition of 93% of all severely abnormal records. Records with mild gastric electrica l abnormalities were recognized with a sensitivity of 74%, Conclusions : EGG can recognize severe electrical uncoupling.