Studies on the effect of vagotomy on small intestinal motility using the radiotelemetering capsule.

The radio-telemetering capsule (radio-pill) has been used to study the return of motility in the small bowel after vagotomy with a drainage procedure, gastric operations not involving vagotomy, and non-gastric operations. Small intestinal movements returned in about 10 hours after vagotomy, about four hours after the various gastric operations, and within one hour in those operations not involving handling of the viscera. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to the management of patients after gastric surgery.