Relation between fasting antroduodenal motility and transpyloric fluid movements.

The effect of fasting antroduodenal motility on duodenogastric fluid movements was studied in 12 healthy volunteers. Antroduodenal motility was recorded using a multilumen manometry tube. Gastric emptying and secretion and the duodenogastric reflux of bile acids and marker were measured simultaneously by means of a marker dilution technique. Gastric emptying and acid secretion were higher in phase II than in phase I of the fasting motor activity cycle [median (range) 1.74 (1.2-4.2) ml/min vs. 0.90 (0.0-2.4) ml/min and 63.5 (6.4-115.0) vs. 37.9 (5.8-86.4) mumol/min, P less than 0.01]. The duodenogastric reflux rates of bile acids and marker were similar in all phases and showed large intra- and interindividual variations. There was no correlation between antroduodenal coordination during phase II motility and gastric emptying and duodenogastric reflux. It is concluded that the interdigestive motility pattern has moderate effects on fasting emptying of liquid gastric contents and on gastric secretion but no effects on duodenogastric reflux.