[Manometry of the upper gastrointestinal tract in esophageal reflux disease]

Infusion manometry of the esophagus and the stomach after the permanent dynamic method of Winans [correction of Wynas] and Harris was carried out on 52 patients (30 women and 22 men) with hiatal hernia, volvulus of the stomach or peptic ulcer disease. Altogether 75 examinations were performed--35 preoperative and 40--postoperative. The mean preoperative pressure of the inferior esophageal sphincter was 9.1 (from 0 to 15) mmHg and the mean postoperative pressure was 18 (from 12 to 211 mmHg). The mean preoperative length of the inferior esophageal sphincter was 1.4 (from 0 to 4) cm and the mean postoperative length was 2.5 (from 1 to 6) cm. In 12 patients motor disturbances of the tubular esophagus were found: symmetric, hyperpersistaltic waves (Richter's nutcracker symptom)--in 3 patients, hypomotility--in 5 patients, diffuse esophageal spasm--in 4 patients. Esophageal manometry is a valuable noninvasive method for the functional diagnostic of the reflux disease and the motor esophageal disturbances as well as for the assessment of the postoperative function of the inferior esophageal sphincter.