Acceleration of small bowel transit in a canine hypermotility model with intestinal electrical stimulation

Objective Few studies have been performed on the effect of intestinal electrical stimulation ( IES ) on intestinal dysmotility. This study aimed to investigate the small intestine transit ( SIT ) in a canine model of intestinal hypermotility when applying IES . Method Six hound bitches were surgically prepared with two chronic intestinal fistulas, intestinal serosal electrodes of which the proximal pair was used for serosal IES. Pacing wires were attached to a manometric catheter for mucosal IES . A nitrogen oxide synthase inhibitor, N ω‐nitro‐ L ‐arginine ( LNNA ) was used to induce intestinal motility. SIT was measured during IES . The study consisted of four randomized sessions: session 1 ( LNNA ), session 2 ( LNNA plus serosal IES ), session 3 ( LNNA plus mucosal IES ) and session 4 (control). Results The intestine transit was slowed down from 31.7 ± 6.1 min in the control session to 49.0 ± 6.2 min after using LNNA ( P  = 0.003). Both mucosal and serosal IES accelerated SIT compared with the LNNA session. The SIT time was reduced to 17.7 ± 3.4 min in the mucosal IES session ( P  = 0.006 vs LNNA) and 27.5 ± 6.3 min in the serosal IES session ( P  = 0.020 vs LNNA). No difference was noted in the SIT time between mucosal and serosal IES ( P  = 0.128). Conclusion IES significantly accelerates delayed SIT in a hypermotility model and intraluminal stimulation is as effective as a serosal one for IES , suggesting that IES may have a therapeutic potential for improving intestinal motility.