Motility Studies in Fifty Patients with Achalasia of the Esophagus

Abstract

Esophageal motility tests with constantly perfused polyethylene catheters were done in 50 patients with achalasia of the esophagus using 30 asymptomatic adults as control. The mean gastroesophageal sphincter pressure was 19.0 ± 1.3 mm. Hg. (mean ± SE) which was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.001). The intraesophageal resting pressure was significantly higher than the mean fundic pressure and no correlation among resting gastroesophageal sphincter pressure and resting intraesophageal pressure was found. An incomplete relaxation of the sphincter after swallowing was found in 45 patients with achalasia as opposed to complete sphincter relaxation in normals. Copyright © 1974, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved