RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The relationships between contractile activity and transport of intraluminal contents in the human small intestine are not well understood. AIM: To study both phenomena by combined measurements of intraluminal impedance and pressurein the jejunum of healthy subjects. METHODS: 12 healthy volunteers (m 4, f 8), mean age 32.3 years (24-49 years), underwent jejunal combined impedance/manometry recordings (six channels at 2-cm intervals). Fasting (one MMC cycle) and postprandial motility were recorded. RESULTS: Intestinal transport differed with the phases of motility. No transport was seen in phase I, regular bolus transport occurred during phase III. The longest duration of transport was observed in late phase II preceding phase III. Irregular and intermittent bolus transport occurred during early phase II and in the postprandial period. Three types of relationship between contractions and bolus transport were identified: transport with single contractions or migrating clustered contractions and transport without contractile activity. The frequency of these events differed with the direction of bolus transport, and a relationship between propagation velocity and bolus presence time was established. CONCLUSION: Combined simultaneous measurement of intraluminal impedance and manometry is a promising new method to elucidate the relationships between bolus transport and contractile activity in the human small bowel.