The esophagogastric junction in patients with asymptomatic lower esophageal mucosal rings.

This study investigates whether asymptomatic lower esophageal mucosal rings are associated with a hiatus hernia or whether they represent an upward migration of columnar epithelium into the esophagus. Simultaneous manometric and potential difference measurements were performed in 12 patients with radiologically documented lower esophageal rings and in 15 control subjects. Suction biopsies from the lower esophagus confirmed that the potential difference transitional zone identified the mucosal gastroesophageal junction. In both patients and controls the esophagogastric mucosal junction was identified within or below the lower esophageal sphincter. It is concluded that the lower esophageal mucosal ring marks the lower end of the esophagus and does not represent a dislocation of the esophagogastric mucosal junction away from the lower esophageal sphincter.

[Evaluation of liver haemodynamics by spleno-portography in portal hypertension (author's transl)]. / Bestimmung der Leberhämodynamik im Rahmen der Splenoportographie bei portaler Hypertension.

In 68 patients arterial and portal blood flow were measured by angiodensitometry in the course of routine, indirect splenoportography. Results were compared with those already published, with investigations of a model and with animal experiments. It was shown that, given certain underlying conditions, reliable results can be obtained even in the presence of a pulsatile flow and incomplete contrast mixing. Compared with other procedures, the method has the advantage of providing a complete picture of liver haemodynamics in the course of routine splenoportography in a simple way and without affecting the patient further. As a result the indications for performing a shunt and the choice of the shunt technique can be more accurately determined.