Postpartum Restoration of Pregnancy-Induced Cholecystoparesis and Prolonged Intestinal Transit Time

Pregnancy-induced cholecystoparesis and prolonged intestinal transit are well known, but their duration after delivery and any relation to the rapid decline of serum progesterone have not been studied in the early postpartum period. We studied gallbladder and small intestinal motor function in 10 women during the third trimester of pregnancy and in the second and fourth days postpartum, comparing the results to a control group of 8 women during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Gallbladder motor function was evaluated by real-time ultrasonography and intestinal transit time was measured by the lactulose hydrogen breath test. Postpartum correction of gallbladder and intestinal motor function is early and is initially related to the fall of serum progesterone. Other as yet unknown mechanisms operate later to achieve normalization of gallbladder motor function.