AIM: To investigate distal small bowel motility and lipid absorption in patients following elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair surgery.METHODS: Nine patients (aged 35-78 years; body mass index (BMI) range: 23-36 kg/m(2)) post-surgery for AAA repair, and seven healthy control subjects (20-50 years; BMI range: 21-29 kg/m(2)>) were studied. Continuous distal small bowel manometry was performed for up to 72 h, during periods of fasting and enteral feeding (Nutrison(reg)). Recordings were analyzed for the frequency, origin, length of migration, and direction of small intestinal burst activity. Lipid absorption was assessed on the first day and the third day post surgery in a subset of patients using the (13)C-triolein-breath test, and compared with healthy controls. Subjects received a 20-min intraduodenal infusion of 50 mL liquid feed mixed with 200 muL (13)C-triolein. End-expiratory breath samples were collected for 6 h and analyzed for (13)>CO(2) concentration.RESULTS: The frequency of burst activity in the proximal and distal small intestine was higher in patients than in healthy subjects, under both fasting and fed conditions (P