[Esophageal motility studies in cirrhotic patients before and after endoscopic variceal ligation]

To study esophageal motility before and after the endoscopic variceal ligation in cirrhotic patients.

Twenty-four patients with chronic liver disease assisted at the "Gastrocentro - UNICAMP" in the program of endoscopic variceal ligation were studied (mean age of 49.5 years, 19 males and 5 females). The inclusion criteria were chronic liver disease and esophageal varices with high-risk bleeding. Initially upper digestive endoscopy and esophageal manometry were performed in all cases. Next, the sessions of variceal ligation were initiated (average 3.4+/-2.1) in the outpatient clinic, with an interval of 2 to 4 weeks. The esophageal manometry was repeated 4 weeks after variceal eradication and amplitude, duration, propagation speed of the contractile waves and peristalsis were studied.

Analysis of the lower sphincter pressure did not show differences before and after variceal ligation. In 10 cases (41.6%) dysmotility was recorded, and the amplitude of the contractile waves rose from 70.7 mmHg (52.3 and 108.4) before variceal ligation to 89.7 mmHg (69.9 and 122.8) after the procedure (p = 0.004 - p < 0.05), and the duration increased from 3.55 seg.+/- 0.58 to 3.90 seg.+/- 0.72 (p = 0.02 - p < 0.05). The wave propagation speed did not differ from the values before the exam of 3.43+/- 0.97 cm/seg, to those after of. 61+/- 0.99 cm/sec (p = 0.15 - p > 0.05).

The final analysis shows alterations of esophageal motility characterized by increase in the amplitude and duration of the contractile waves.