Volume capacity and pressure characteristics of various types of intestinal reservoirs

Abstract

Abstract The volume capacity and the pressure characteristics of 3 types of intestinal reservoirs, the continent ileostomy, the continent ileal urostomy, and the continent cecostomy, were studied in patients at intervals after surgical construction of the reservoirs. The volume increases of the ileostomy and the urostomy reservoirs were almost identical but were significantly greater than that of the cecal reservoir. The basal pressure was low in all types of reservoirs, although somewhat higher in the cecal reservoir at greater filling volumes. In the ileal reservoirs, motor activity appeared at a filling volume of about 40% of the maximal capacity, whereas in the cecal reservoir motor activity was recorded at all filling levels. The motor activity increased with greater volumes. The amplitude of the highest pressure wave in the cecal reservoir was twice as high as that of the ileal reservoirs. The motor activity of the cecal reservoir, calculated in 2 different ways, was 10–20 times greater than in the ileal reservoirs. Reflux into the afferent loop was demonstrated in the ileostomy reservoir at a filling volume of approximately 30% of the maximal volume capacity.