[Course of intraluminal esophageal pressure after laryngectomy (author's transl)]

A new electronic equipment permits the measurement of the course of intraluminal esophageal pressures in patients before and after laryngectomy. The values obtained in all parts of the esophagus could be reproduced, thus proving the correctness of the measuring system. In patients with laryngectomy having a good compensatory esophageal voice the pressures in the lower esophageal sphincter doubled, when compared with those patients with laryngectomy which had little or no compensatory voice. The pressure in the area of the upper esophageal sphincter was reduced because of the laryngectomy, and the pressure in the area of the upper third of the esophagus was unchanged. There was no difference between the groups with good and with poor esophageal voice.