[Postoperative colon tonus after partial resection of the large intestine].

Only limited data are available on postoperative colonic motility in patients. We investigated colonic tone and motility after large bowel resection in 20 patients. A combined barostat/manometry catheter was placed intraoperatively. Postoperative colonic motility increased day by day. Barostat bag volumes were reduced on postoperative day 1 compared to postoperative day 2 and 3 indicating increased colonic tone on the 1st postoperative day. The use of morphine-like analgesics was highest right after surgery but might not explain increased colonic tone on postoperative day 1 since morphine has been shown to decrease colonic tone. Possibly, increased postoperative sympathetic activity which caused reduced splanchnic blood flow may be responsible for the apparent increase in postoperative colonic tone. The recording of colonic motility in the early postoperative period is feasible with a combined manometry/barostat catheter. These investigations may improve the understanding of the pathophysiology of postoperative colonic ileus.