INFLUENCE OF EXTENSIVE RESECTION OF THE SMALL INTESTINE ON THE MOVEMENT OF THE LARGE BOWEL

An electromyographic study of the influence of extensive resection of the small intestine on the movement of the large bowels was carried out. Thirt mongrel dogs weighing 4 to 8 kg were used for experiments. After one-third resection of the upper, middle or lower small intestine, electrical activity of the ascending colon was markedly repressed, while that of the descending colon was not so influenced. The action potentials of the ascending colon almost disappeared after two-thirds resection of the upper, middle or lower small intestine, but the descending colon was not influenced by these procedures. From the results mentioned above, it is considered that the function of the remaining small intestine after extensive resection was partially compensated by the ascending colon.