ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Resection of the esophagus for malignant disease or a benign stenosis, has a choice not only of palliative surgery, but also of replacement of the esophagus with a transposed stomach, jejunum, or colon. The first-line method is replacement with a tubulized stomach. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of esophageal motor dysfunction and gastric emptying time with symptoms after esophagectomy. METHODS: We performed the esophageal manometry and gastric emptying time after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in 12 patients and for benign esophageal disease in 2 patients. RESULTS: In manometric studies, a zone of high pressure in the esophago-gastric anastomosis distal to the upper esophageal sphincter was associated with symptoms after esophagectomy. The gastric emptying rate was slowed in 7 out of 14 patients, but not associated with symptoms after esophagectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that a high-pressure zone distal to the upper esophageal sphincter was associated with symptoms after esophagectomy in manometric study. The gastric emptying rate was not associated with postoperative symptoms.