The adreno-medullary effect on gastrointestinal propulsion after laparotomy. An experimental study in the rat.

Gastrointestinal propulsion after abdominal surgery is impaired during the postoperative phase. Adrenalectomy as well as only adrenal demedullation prevented the impairment of gastric emptying and small bowel propulsion after laparotomy. In non-laparotomized rats gastric evacuation was significantly increased after adrenalectomy and adrenal demedullation. The results indicate that adrenomedullary activity retards gastrointestinal propulsion not only postoperatively but even in intact rats.