The role of short-term multilumen duodenojejunal manometry in patients with intestinal motor dysfunction

Short-term duodenojejunal manometry, using a multilumen perfused tube, was performed in 12 patients with symptoms of motor dysfunction, 6 patients with irritable bowel syndrome and predominant diarrhea and 6 patients with chronic constipation. Ten healthy individuals served as controls. The durations, in minutes, of the various phases of the migratory motility complex in the three groups were: phase I: 24.4 ± 22.1, 26.9 ± 17.3, and 27.2 ± 18.5; phase II: 86.7 ± 25.2, 132 ± 93, and 73.1 ± 40.8, and those of phase III: 6 ± 2.5, 6.8 ± 5, and 6.4 ± 1.7, respectively. The differences between patients and controls were not statistically significant. Variables of contractions of phase III in the different groups were: frequency (per minute): 10.9 ± 0.8, 10.7 ± 0.4, and 11.3 ± 0.4; Summation of amplitudes per minute: 205.2 ± 55.7, 288 ± 57.9, and 337.8 ± 76.5; Mean amplitude (mm Hg): 19.1 ± 4.2, 28.6 ± 5, and 33.5 ± 7.1, respectively. Results in the patient groups were not significantly different from controls. Short-term duodenojejunal manometry was normal in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and in those with chronic constipation.