OC3.07.5
COLONIC GAS TRANSIT AND EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL
STIMULATION ON THE ABDOMINALWALL
F. Tremolaterra ∗ , A. Pascariello, D. Consalvo, C. Ciacci, P. Iovino
Università Federico II, Napoli
Background and aim: Bloating and abdominal distension are frequently
reported by patients with functional gastrointestinal disease.
Recently it has been suggested that patients with bloating have impaired
intestinal handling of gas loads.
Aims of our work is study the colon gas handling in irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS) and functional bloating (FB) patients by a specific
gas challenge test and to evaluate the effects on colon gas transit and
bloating symptoms of mechanical stimulation on the abdominal wall.
Material and methods: Fifteen patients (12 F, range 27-64y; 11 IBS, 4
FB) and 5 healthy control (4 F, range 20-40y) were assigned, in random
order, to study I: colonic gas load (5 patients and 5 healthy control) or
study II: colonic gas load + electro-mechanical stimulation of abdominal
wall, active and sham (5 patients active and 5 sham). Colonic gas load
study was performed by a 60 min continuous gas mixture infusion (N2,
CO2, O2 in venous proportion) at 24 ml/min and by its collecting, for
other 30 min, via the anal balloon-catheter. The mechanical stimulation
on the abdomen was performed by an electro-mechanical stimulator
(Free-lax, ADM, Israel) and was applied at active group during evacuation
period of the study II. Symptom perception and abdominal distension
were measured by a validated questionnaire and a metric belt-tape
assembly respectively. Gas retention was calculated as the difference
between the volume of gas infused and the volume of gas recovered.
Results: Study I: patients developed significantly more gas retention
compared to healthy control (586±50ml vs 493±41ml, p=0.01). Further
the patients complained a significant more abdominal perception
then healthy control either to the end infusion period (60° min) or to
the end gas evacuation period (90° min) (4.5±1.0 vs 2.4±0.9 e 1.1±1.0
vs 0±0, p=0.01 e p=0.04, respectively) and more abdominal distension
to the end of gas evacuation period (2.4±1.1mm vs 0.2±0.4mm, respectively;
p=0.004). Study II: no statistically differences was found in
gas retention, perception and abdominal distension, in all study period,
among patients with or without electro-mechanical stimulation.
Conclusions: Our study shows an impaired transit and tolerance of
colonic gas loads in IBS and FB patients not modified by mechanical
stimulation of abdominal wall.
# M. Functional disorders 2. IB