[Frontiers in Bioscience 3, b11-14, October 15, 1998]

	[Frontiers in Bioscience 3, b11-14, October 15, 1998] Reprints PubMed CAVEAT LECTOR
	ELECTROSIGMOIDOGRAM IN THE VARIOUS PATHOLOGIC CONDITIONS OF THE SIGMOID COLON Ahmed Shafik Department of Surgery and Experimental Research, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. Received 7/22/98 Accepted 8/20/98 2. INTRODUCTION The sigmoid colon is often the site of pathologic conditions such as ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, polyposis and cancer. The diagnosis of these diseases depends on endoscopic and barium enema studies. Although these methods are commonly diagnostic in such lesions, yet, endoscopy and biopsy are invasive procedures. Electric activity has been recorded from different parts of the gut in normal subjects and patients with various pathologies of the bowel (1-11). This activity manifests as slow waves or pacesetter potentials (PPs) and action potentials (APs). The PPs in normal subjects are regular and consistent when repeated in the same individual (1-11). They are followed randomly by spikes of APs, which are inconsistent and are associated with an elevated rectal pressure (10,11). Various pathologies of the gut have been associated with characteristic electrographic irregularities (3,9,12-19). Electric activity has also been recorded from the sigmoid colon as PPs and APs (20). The electrodes were applied to the sigmoid colon through its lumen. A normal electrosigmoidogram (ESG) could be characterized for the healthy volunteers (20). The procedure was performed percutaneously (21) and the electric signals were confirmed by the intrasigmoid electrodes. The PPs were recorded as regular negative deflections. They had constant frequency, amplitude and velocity of conduction when recordings were repeated in the same subject. The APs followed the PPs and were inconsistent. The PPs registered transcutaneously had the same amplitude, frequency and velocity as those recorded intrasigmoidally (20,21). However, APs could be registered only intrasigmoidally and not transcutaneously (20,21). The intervening abdominal wall and the inconsistency and low amplitude of APs seem to impede their recording transcutaneously. The current communication describes the transcutaneous ESG in the various pathologic conditions of the sigmoid colon aiming at evaluating its possible role as an investigative tool in the diagnosis of such conditions.

[Frontiers in Bioscience 3, b11-14, October 15, 1998]
Reprints
PubMed
CAVEAT LECTOR

ELECTROSIGMOIDOGRAM IN THE VARIOUS PATHOLOGIC CONDITIONS OF THE SIGMOID COLON

Ahmed Shafik

Department of Surgery and Experimental Research, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

Received 7/22/98 Accepted 8/20/98

2. INTRODUCTION

The sigmoid colon is often the site of pathologic conditions such as ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, polyposis and cancer. The diagnosis of these diseases depends on endoscopic and barium enema studies. Although these methods are commonly diagnostic in such lesions, yet, endoscopy and biopsy are invasive procedures.

Electric activity has been recorded from different parts of the gut in normal subjects and patients with various pathologies of the bowel (1-11). This activity manifests as slow waves or pacesetter potentials (PPs) and action potentials (APs). The PPs in normal subjects are regular and consistent when repeated in the same individual (1-11). They are followed randomly by spikes of APs, which are inconsistent and are associated with an elevated rectal pressure (10,11). Various pathologies of the gut have been associated with characteristic electrographic irregularities (3,9,12-19).

Electric activity has also been recorded from the sigmoid colon as PPs and APs (20). The electrodes were applied to the sigmoid colon through its lumen. A normal electrosigmoidogram (ESG) could be characterized for the healthy volunteers (20). The procedure was performed percutaneously (21) and the electric signals were confirmed by the intrasigmoid electrodes. The PPs were recorded as regular negative deflections. They had constant frequency, amplitude and velocity of conduction when recordings were repeated in the same subject. The APs followed the PPs and were inconsistent. The PPs registered transcutaneously had the same amplitude, frequency and velocity as those recorded intrasigmoidally (20,21). However, APs could be registered only intrasigmoidally and not transcutaneously (20,21). The intervening abdominal wall and the inconsistency and low amplitude of APs seem to impede their recording transcutaneously.

The current communication describes the transcutaneous ESG in the various pathologic conditions of the sigmoid colon aiming at evaluating its possible role as an investigative tool in the diagnosis of such conditions.