Spontaneous activity of the stomach and large intestine in healthy individuals and patients with tumors before and after gastrectomy and colectomy

We studied the distribution of main frequencies of spontaneous activity (in the range of 2-4 cycles/min) of the stomach and large intestine in healthy individuals and patients with stomach and colon cancer before and after gastrectomy and resection or total colectomy. The rhythm was recorded noninvasively (from body surface) with Ag/AgCl electrodes connected to a 3-channel portable electrogastrograph. We determined general peculiarities of rhythm formation in the stomach and large intestine in healthy individuals on an empty stomach and after mixed feeding and evaluated changes in spontaneous activity in patients with stomach and colon cancer before and after gastrectomy, resection, or total colectomy. Rhythmic activity of the stomach was coordinated with that of the large intestine in healthy individuals, but not in patients with tumors before the start of specific therapy. Multichannel cutaneous electrogastroenterography and recording of spontaneous electrical activity in the epigastric and perianal regions reflect functional relationships between the stomach and large intestine.