Comparison of intestinal transit recovery between laparoscopic and open surgery using a rat model

Background: After laparoscopic surgery (LS), patients show faster recovery of intestinal transit than after conventional open surgery (OS). To prove the mechanism of this advantage, we compared the recovery of intestinal transit using steel carbon balls. Methods: Rats underwent either open laparotomy or were insufflated with carbon dioxide followed by the administration of steel balls (0.6 mm). An abdominal radiograph was taken 12 h after the operation. Compliance of the intestinal walls was analyzed with a computer-driven barostat device. Results: An abdominal radiograph of 12 h after administration of the steel carbon balls showed the balls scattered in the small and large intestine of the LS patients, whereas they remained mostly in the stomach of the OS patients. Compliance of the intestinal walls was sustained at approximately 100 µl/mmHg in the LS patients, whereas it dropped to 94 µl/mmHg in the OS patients with the increase in balloon pressure. Histologically, the extent of serosal edema was more severe in the OS than in the LS patients. In terms of intestinal transit and irritation LS has advantage over OS. Conclusions: Intestinal transit recovery, as measured by the migration of steel carbon balls, is faster in LS, and gastric emptying is slow in OS.