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Determination of transit time in the human jejunum by the single-injection indicator-dilution technic

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Summary

The present study was prompted by the need for an accurate method by which the speed of propulsion of gastrointestinal contents could be assessed.

The transit time of a single injection of an indicator substance in a segment of human jejunum in vivo was determined with radio-Renografin-125I and phenolsulfonphthalein as markers. The markers were nonabsorbable and mixed satisfactorily with intestinal contents over a 25-cm. segment of jejunum.

The peak concentration time is proposed as a more representative and practical value of the transit time in the gastrointestinal system than the mean transit time. This opinion is based on (1) the dissimilarities between the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems—namely, the slow flow rate and the presence of considerable cephalad transport in the gastrointestinal tract; (2) statistical correlation between appearance time, peak concentration time, and mean transit time; and (3) the simplicity and speed of determination of the peak concentration time.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. From the Division of Gastroenterology, McGill University Clinic, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Canada

    M. A. Barreiro M.D., M.Sc., R. D. McKenna M.D. (F.R.C.P. (C) & I. T. Beck M.D., Ph.D. (F.R.C.P. (C)

  2. Medical Research and Development, Cyanamid International American Cyanamid Company, 10965, Pearl River, N. Y.

    M. A. Barreiro M.D., M.Sc., R. D. McKenna M.D. (F.R.C.P. (C) & I. T. Beck M.D., Ph.D. (F.R.C.P. (C)

Authors
  1. M. A. Barreiro M.D., M.Sc.
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  2. R. D. McKenna M.D.
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  3. I. T. Beck M.D., Ph.D.
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Additional information

Supported in part by Grant MA-1890 from the Medical Research Council of Canada, and by the Donner Canadian Foundation.

The authors thank Drs. J. Taylor and M. Stephens, Department of Mathematics, McGill University, and Dr. A. Oriol, Cardiology Division, McGill University Clinic, Royal Victoria Hospital, for their contribution in the development of the methods, and Miss D. Dannacker for her technical assistance.

The work reported here formed part of the M.Sc. thesis of M. A. Barreiro (McGill University, 1966).

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Barreiro, M.A., McKenna, R.D. & Beck, I.T. Determination of transit time in the human jejunum by the single-injection indicator-dilution technic. Digest Dis Sci 13, 222–233 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02236597

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02236597

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