Motility studies can also differentiate between myopathic and the neuropathic forms of the condition. In the myopathic form the enteric nerves are normal, but the intestinal muscles function abnormally. In the neuropathic form the intestinal muscles function normally but the enteric nerves are abnormal. Overlap or undifferentiated forms also occur. A non invasive test for the diagnosis of pseudo-obstruction and the differentiation between the two main forms of the condition is badly needed.
Electrical activity plays a major role in the control of gastric motor activity.
This electrical activity can be measured and analyzed by computer. In a normal person the electrical activity of the stomach consists of changes at a rate of 3 cycles per minute. These skin electrodes are attached to a computer for analysis of the electrical activity. In this paper, Dr. Debinski and colleagues report on the application of l GG to a group of 14 adults with pseudo-obstruction, all of whom had surgery and motility studies. EGG was abnormal in 13 of these 14 patients.