Functional characteristics of canine pylorus in health, with pyloroplasty, and after pyloric reconstruction.

The aim was to determine whether pyloroplasty decreases the strength of pyloric contractions and speeds gastric emptying of solids, while subsequent pyloric reconstruction restores these abnormalities to the control. In conscious dogs, pyloroplasty decreased the strength of pyloroduodenal pressure waves measured with a perfused sleeve sensor [mean +/- SEM pyloroduodenal motility index: control (N = 7) = 1116 +/- 351 mm Hg x sec/10 min; pyloroplasty (N = 7) = 43 +/- 19 mm Hg x sec/10 min; P < 0.05], and caused rapid gastric emptying of solids measured scintigraphically (mean +/- SEM half-emptying time: control = 246 +/- 14 min, pyloroplasty = 176 +/- 16 min; P < 0.05). The frequencies of pyloroduodenal waves and gastric emptying of liquids, however, were unchanged. Pyloric reconstruction restored the postpyloroplasty patterns to the control. In conclusion, pyloroplasty decreased the strength of pyloroduodenal contractions and sped gastric emptying of solids, while pyloric reconstruction restored the altered patterns to the control.