Intestinal Dysmotility: Effect of Colonic Load

Intestinal Dysmotility in Patients With Functional Digestive Symptoms

Abnormal motility patterns in the jejunum can be detected in patients with prominent colonic distension, and it is not clear whether these abnormalities reflect a primary jejunal dysfunction or are due to a reflex distortion. The aim of the study is to determine the effect of colonic filling on jejunal postprandial motility using high-resolution manometry.

Healthy subjects will be studied following a controlled, parallel, randomized, single-blind experimental design. On the study day, nutrients will be continuously infused in the proximal jejunum (2 Kcal/min) during a 2-h period to induce a steady-state postprandial motor pattern. Jejunal motility will be concomitantly recorded using a water-perfused, high-resolution manometry catheter. After 1 hour of postprandial recording (basal period), a gas mixture will be infused during 7.5 minutes via a rectal tube (720 mL or sham infusion), and jejunal motility will be recorded for another hour.

Inclusion Criteria:

• No digestive symptoms

Exclusion Criteria:

• Organic diseases