Electromanometric study of the esophageal sphincters and their correlation

ABSTRACT

Clinical and experimental studies on esophageal sphincters are easily found in the literature. However, the correlation between sphincters is seldom focused. The purpose of this work is to verify whether changes in the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) affects the resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincters (LES). Electromanometric measurements of the esophageal esphincters of 8 mongrel dogs were taken by using the technique of station pull-through and continous infusion of catheters. Then, the animals were submitted to miotomy of the cricopharyngeus muscle. Sphincteric pressure was measured before and after surgery. Results revealed the following pressure values for UES 27 + 12 mmHg (prior to surgery) and 12 + 5 mmHg (after surgery); (p<0.01). Nonetheless, LES resting pressure did not change (22 + 11 mmHg prior to and after surgery; p>0.80).