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©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 21, 2007; 13(19): 2684-2692
Published online May 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i19.2684
Published online May 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i19.2684
Effects of radiation upon gastrointestinal motility
Mary F Otterson, Departments of Surgery and Physiology, Cancer Center and Digestive Diseases Center, Medical College of Wisconsin and Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 4-4-2007, United States
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by a cooperative agreement with NIAID, AI067734
Correspondence to: Mary F Otterson, MD, MS, Department of Surgery, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States. motterso@mcw.edu
Telephone: +1-414-8055734 Fax: +1-414-4540152
Received: January 11, 2007
Revised: February 2, 2007
Accepted: February 14, 2007
Published online: May 21, 2007
Revised: February 2, 2007
Accepted: February 14, 2007
Published online: May 21, 2007
Abstract
Whether due to therapeutic or belligerent exposure, the gastrointestinal effects of irradiation produce symptoms dreaded by a majority of the population. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping are hallmarks of the prodromal phase of radiation sickness, occurring hours to days following radiation exposure. The prodromal phase is distinct from acute radiation sickness in that the absorptive, secretory and anatomic changes associated with radiation damage are not easily identifiable. It is during this phase of radiation sickness that gastrointestinal motility significantly changes. In addition, there is evidence that motor activity of the gut contributes to some of the acute and chronic effects of radiation.
Keywords: Electrical control activity; Retrograde giant contraction; Giant migrating contraction; Migrating motor Complex; Radiation therapy