Premium
Upper gastrointestinal motility changes following spinal cord injury
Author(s) -
Gondim F. A. A.,
De Oliveira G. R.,
Thomas F. P.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
neurogastroenterology and motility
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.489
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1365-2982
pISSN - 1350-1925
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2009.01410.x
Subject(s) - spinal cord injury , gastric emptying , medicine , motility , spinal cord , gastrointestinal function , autonomic function , gastroenterology , stomach , anesthesia , heart rate , heart rate variability , psychiatry , biology , blood pressure , genetics
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with severe autonomic dysfunction in both the acute and chronic phases. Upper gastrointestinal (GI) motor dysfunction has been previously reported in humans and rats. Gastric emptying (GE) of a solid meal – as measured by the [ 13 C]‐octanoic acid breath test – is delayed in the first 3 weeks after either spinal cord transection (SCT) or contusion (SCC) in rats. This is one of the main findings of a new paper by Qualls‐Creekmore et al. in the current issue of this journal. Previous studies in rats only reported impairment of GE, intestinal and GI transit of liquid after SCI, but the authors observed that the delay of the GE of solid was more prominent after SCT than SCC. Recovery of the delay of GE of solid occurred at 6 weeks after SCC, but not after SCT. However, gastric motility changes persisted despite the functional normalization of the GE in rats with SCC. Bowel dysfunction is a major physical and psychological burden for SCI patients. Collaborative efforts, like the development of international standards to evaluate autonomic function after SCI will likely clarify the mechanisms of dysfunction and lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies.