Postprandial Bowel Sounds

Bowel sounds were recorded under standard conditions for 30 minutes before, and for 90 minutes after a standard meal in 12 healthy human volunteers. The sounds were analyzed with the aid of a computer, and the evolution in time of specific parameters obtained as a quantitative printout. The number, total duration, and mean energy of sounds totaled for ten minute periods were found to be markedly influenced by the ingestion of the meal. A peak of activity occurred immediately after the meal; the activity then decreased to 85% of premeal value 60 minutes later, and a second peak followed after a further 60 minutes. An excellent correlation (correlation coefficient better than 0.9) was found at two recording sites between the three analyzed parameters, taken in pairs. For any given parameter, a correlation was also found between its value at the two sites (k better than 0.9),but the actual value were significantly different (p <0.001). When bowel sounds are interpreted, therefore, food ingestion should be taken into consideration.