Specific esophagogram to assess functional outcomes after Heller's myotomy and Dor's fundoplication for esophageal achalasia.

Esophageal emptying assessed at the 'timed barium' esophagogram correlates well with symptomatic outcomes after pneumatic dilation for esophageal achalasia, although 30% of patients with satisfactory outcome exhibit partial improvement in emptying. The aim of the study was to investigate any correlation of esophageal emptying to symptomatic response after laparoscopic Heller's myotomy and Dor's fundoplication. 'Bread and barium' (transit time of a barium opaque bread bolus) and 'timed barium' (height of esophageal barium column 5 minutes after ingestion of 200-250 mL of barium suspension) esophagogram was used to assess esophageal emptying in 73 patients with esophageal achalasia before 1 and 5 years (31 cases) after laparoscopic myotomy and anterior fundoplication. Symptoms assessment was based to a specific score. At 1-year follow-up, excellent and good symptomatic results were obtained in 95% of the cases. Esophageal maximum diameter, esophageal transit time, and esophageal barium column were significantly correlated to each other and to symptom score postoperatively (P < 0.001). Complete and partial (<90% and 50-90% postoperative reduction in barium column, respectively) emptying was seen in 55% and 31% of patients with excellent result. Patients with a pseudodiverticulum postoperatively had a more delayed esophageal emptying than those without. Symptomatic outcome and esophageal emptying did not deteriorate at 5-year follow-up. Esophageal emptying assessed by 'barium and bread' and 'timed barium' esophagogram correlated well with symptomatic outcome after laparoscopic myotomy for esophageal achalasia. Complete symptomatic relief does not necessarily reflect complete esophageal emptying. Outcomes do not deteriorate by time. Because of wide availability, esophagogram can be applied in follow-up of postmyotomy patients in conjunction with symptomatic evaluation.

Eosinophilic esophagitis in adults: what is the clinical significance?

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a condition that is being increasingly recognized in adults. The main presenting symptoms are dysphagia (93 %), food impaction (62 %), and heartburn (24 %). A history of allergy is obtained in 52 % of patients and peripheral eosinophilia is found in 31 % of patients with this condition. Esophageal manometric studies have provided evidence of a nonspecific motility disorder in 40 % of patients. Endoscopic findings include mucosal fragility or edema (59 %), solitary or multiple concentric rings (49 %), strictures (40 %), whitish pinpoint exudates or papules (16 %), and a small-caliber esophagus (5 %); 9 % of patients present with a normal endoscopy. Esophageal dilation in adults with eosinophilic esophagitis has limited efficacy and is associated with an increased complication rate compared with dilation in patients with benign strictures. The administration of inhaled or systemic corticosteroids results in symptomatic improvement in nearly 95 % of patients. A trial with corticosteroids before bougienage may reduce active inflammation and therefore the complication rate of the procedure.

Effect of polyethylene glycol electrolyte balanced solution on patients with acute colonic pseudo obstruction after resolution of colonic dilation: a prospective, randomised, placebo controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Conservative therapy for patients with acute colonic pseudo obstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome) may be successful initially but relapses are common. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) electrolyte balanced solution on the relapse rate of the syndrome after initial resolution with neostigmine or endoscopic decompression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was performed on 30 consecutive patients who presented with abdominal distension and radiographic evidence of colonic dilation, with a caecal diameter > or = 10 cm, that resolved conservatively. Patients then were randomised to receive daily 29.5 g of PEG (n = 15) or similar placebo (n = 15). Patients were monitored daily for a seven day period for stool and flatus evacuations, and colonic diameter on abdominal radiographs. Administration of the test solutions and assessment of patient symptoms and x rays were performed in a blinded fashion. A caecal diameter > or = 8 cm with a concomitant > or =10% increase after initial successful therapeutic intervention was considered as a relapse and these patients, after a second therapeutic intervention, were eligible to receive open label PEG. RESULTS: Twenty five patients received neostigmine as the initial therapeutic intervention which resulted in resolution of colonic dilation in 88% of cases. Eight patients had successful endoscopic decompression. Five (33.3%) patients in the placebo group had recurrent caecal dilation compared with none in the PEG group (p = 0.04). Therapy with PEG resulted in a significant increase in stool and flatus evacuations (p = 0.001 and 0.032, respectively) as well as in a significant decrease in the diameter of caecum, ascending and transverse colon, and abdominal circumference (p = 0.017, 0.018, 0.014, and 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Administration of PEG in patients with Ogilvie's syndrome after initial resolution of colonic dilation may increase the sustained response rate after initial therapeutic intervention.

Cutaneous electrogastrography for the assessment of gastric myoelectrical activity in type I diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Gastric dysrhythmias have been noted in diabetic patients with upper GI symptoms attributed to delayed gastric emptying. The aim of this study was to assess gastric myoelectrical activity in patients with asymptomatic insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Nine healthy subjects (five men, four women) and ten patients with insulin-dependent diabetes (six men, four women) participated in the study. Percutaneous electrogastrography was applied with a portable device on all subjects for 2 h before, during, and 2 h after the ingestion of a standard meal. Spectral analysis of the traces was performed on a personal computer using devoted software. The parameters assessed were 1) the percentile distribution of the three spectra of gastric slow-wave frequency, defined as follows: bradygastria for 0-2.4 cycles/min, normogastria for 2.5-3.6 cycles/min, and tachygastria for 3.7-9 cycles/min; and 2) the fed/fasting ratio of slow-wave power at all three spectra of frequencies. RESULTS: Bradygastria was significantly more common during the entire period of recording (p = 0.024), and in particular during the fasting state (p = 0.0008) and the period of meal consumption (p = 0.0001) in diabetic patients than in controls. In addition, the presence of normogastria did not increase significantly after the meal in diabetic patients as it did in controls. In diabetic patients, the slow-wave power decreased postprandially at the spectra of bradygastria and normogastria, unlike the controls, who exhibited a respective postprandial increase (fed/fasting power, controls vs patients:p = 0.0006 for bradygastria, p < 0.0001 for normogastria). CONCLUSIONS: Gastric dysrhythmias are present even in diabetic patients without upper GI symptoms attributed to gastric stasis. Increased presence of bradygastria and failure to increase the slow-wave amplitude postprandially are the predominant forms of abnormal myoelectrical activity in these cases.

The effect of intravenous erythromycin on esophageal motility in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: It has been confirmed that erythromycin has gastrokinetic properties of enhancing gastric emptying both in health and disease. The objective of the present study was to investigate any possible effect of erythromycin on esophageal motility. METHODS: In 14 healthy subjects, standard esophageal manometry was performed before and after the intravenous administration of 200 mg of erythromycin. The calculated manometric parameters of esophageal motility were the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure; the amplitude and duration of peristalsis at 5, 10, and 15 cm proximal to the LES; and the velocity and strength of peristalsis at 5 cm proximal to the LES. RESULTS: Erythromycin significantly increased the LES pressure (P<0.001), and the amplitude (P=0.002), duration (P=0.003), strength (P=0.014) and velocity (P=0.008) of peristalsis at 5 cm proximal to LES. Erythromycin also increased the amplitude of peristalsis at 10 cm proximal to the LES (P=0.035). CONCLUSION: Erythromycin affects the motility of the distal esophagus.

The effect of floppy Nissen fundoplication on esophageal and gastric motility in gastroesophageal reflux.

Thirty-five patients with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) proved on ambulatory esophageal hydrogen monitoring were surgically treated by a floppy Nissen fundoplication. Postoperatively, reflux and symptoms related to it were almost completely abolished. Transient bloating syndrome was observed in five instances. The operation significantly improved esophagitis (p < 0.01), increased lower esophageal sphincter pressure (p < 0.01) and increased amplitude of esophageal peristalsis (p < 0.01). However, postoperative motility of the esophagus as detected by manometry was still impaired as compared with that for the control group. Delayed esophageal transit did not improve postoperatively, although no dysphagia was accounted. Impaired esophageal motility in GER was associated with delayed gastric emptying, which, however, improved postoperatively. It is concluded that esophageal and gastric motor abnormalities are rather primary disorders in GER. After successful fundoplication, esophageal dysmotility, aggravated by reflux esophagitis, improves to some extent, while gastric emptying is enhanced.

Differences in manometry and 24-H ambulatory pH-metry between patients with and without endoscopic or histological esophagitis in gastroesophageal reflux disease.

UNLABELLED: In this study, our objective was to examine prospectively, by endoscopy and histology of the esophageal mucosa, the severity of reflux esophagitis and any possible correlation between endoscopic and histological findings on the one hand, and manometric and 24-h ambulatory pH-metry measurements on the other. Forty-two patients with gastroesophageal reflux were prospectively examined. The results were compared with those of 18 healthy controls. Methods used were: 1) upper alimentary endoscopy and grading of severity of esophagitis, 2) esophageal mucosa biopsies, to estimate severity of esophagitis on histology, 3) standard esophageal manometry, by using a water perfused catheter with four side holes, and 4) standard 24-h ambulatory esophageal pH-metry. RESULTS: The severity of esophagitis as determined by both endoscopy and histology was significantly inversely related to the amplitude (p < 0.001) and duration (p < 0.01) of esophageal peristalsis at 5 cm proximal to LES; it was significantly related to the pH-metry total composite score (p < 0.001 for endoscopy, p < 0.05-0.01 for histology), the total reflux time (p < 0.001 for endoscopy, p < 0.01 for histology), the duration of longest reflux episode (p < 0.001 for endoscopy, p < 0.01 for histology), the number of reflux episodes lasting more than 5 min (p < 0.05 for endoscopy), and the frequency-duration index of reflux episodes (p < 0.001 for endoscopy, p < 0.01 for histology). Furthermore, strength reduction of peristalsis (< 60 mm Hg x s) was associated with acid exposure greater than 40%, in esophagitis patients. We conclude that the severity of reflux esophagitis, not only through endoscopy but also histologically, is related to the amount of reflux, as expressed by the duration and frequency of the reflux episodes. A very high amount of reflux is in turn associated with impairment of the esophageal body motility, as expressed by the amplitude and strength of esophageal body peristalsis.

The effect of erythromycin in gastric emptying of solids and hypertonic liquids in healthy subjects.

We report our study of the effect of erythromycin on gastric emptying of solid and liquid meals in 10 healthy subjects. On different occasions, subjects consumed either a radiolabeled 50% glucose solution, or a radiolabeled standard solid meal after placebo, and after receiving 200 mg of erythromycin intravenously. Erythromycin accelerated the gastric emptying of the hypertonic liquid meal by significantly decreasing the duration of lag phase (p < 0.0001), by significantly increasing the emptying rate at the postlag period (p < 0.001), and by significantly decreasing the duration of the postlag period (p < 0.0001) and the meal remaining in the stomach at 15 (p < 0.05), 30 (p < 0.001), and 60 (p < 0.01) min postprandially. In addition, erythromycin administration induced a significant plasma fall at 15 (p < 0.05) and 30 (p < 0.01) min and a significant increase in pulse rate at 15 and 30 min (p < 0.01) after consumption of the hypertonic glucose solution, whereas three subjects experienced symptoms suggesting dumping syndrome. Furthermore, erythromycin administration enhanced the gastric emptying of solids by almost abolishing the duration of lag phase (p < 0.0001) and by reducing the overall t1/2 of emptying (p < 0.0001), whereas less food was retained in the stomach at 60 (p < 0.001) and 120 (p < 0.0001) min postprandially. Conversely, the postlag t1/2 of the solid meal emptying was not affected by erythromycin, as compared to placebo. We conclude that erythromycin has gastrokinetic properties, affecting the gastric emptying of both liquids and solids.

Erythromycin accelerates delayed gastric emptying of solids in patients after truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To find out if erythromycin (a motilin agonist) accelerated gastric emptying after vagotomy and in normal subjects. DESIGN: Double blind controlled study. SETTING: Two referral centres. SUBJECTS: 15 patients who had previously undergone vagotomy and who did (n = 8) or did not (n = 7) have symptoms of gastric stasis and 10 normal controls. INTERVENTIONS: A standard meal containing 185 x 10(5) Bq -99mTc was eaten after either erythromycin 200 mg or 40 ml placebo (normal saline) had been given intravenously. Subjects were then scanned by gamma camera. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measurement of: the length of time from completion of the meal to the onset of gastric emptying; the length of time from completion of the meal until half of the meal had left the stomach; the length of the time from the onset of gastric emptying until half of the meal had left the stomach; and the percentage of the meal that was left in the stomach at 60 and 120 min after the end of the meal. RESULTS: Gastric emptying was significantly delayed in those patients with symptoms compared with normal subjects and patients without symptoms. Erythromycin accelerated the first two phases of gastric emptying in all patients and normal subjects, but did not affect the length of time from the onset of gastric emptying until half the meal had left the stomach. CONCLUSION: Erythromycin could be a useful gastrokinetic agent in patients with symptoms of gastric stasis after vagotomy.

Inversion of the slow-wave frequency gradient in symptomatic patients with Roux-en-Y anastomoses.

Patients with Roux-en-Y anastomoses may have chronic symptoms of nausea, vomiting, epigastric fullness, and abdominal pain. To investigate the mechanism of these symptoms, the electrical activity of the Roux limb was studied in five symptomatic and four asymptomatic patients with Roux-en-Y anastomoses. Slow-wave and spike activity in the Roux limb were recorded using six bipolar suction electrodes positioned 10 cm apart. Ten healthy volunteers were studied as a control. In the control subjects, the mean slow-wave frequency decreased from 11.27 +/- 0.2 cycles/min at 30 cm below the ligament of Treitz to 10.96 +/- 0.2 cycles/min at 80 cm past Treitz. By contrast, in five patients the slow-wave frequency in the Roux limb increased from 11.12 +/- 0.2 cycles/min 10 cm below the gastrojejunal anastomosis to 11.42 +/- 0.4 cycles/min 50 cm more distally. Four of these five patients had severe symptoms. In the other four patients, of whom three were completely symptom-free, an aborally decreasing slow-wave frequency was observed. In both the controls and the patients with Roux-en-Y anastomoses, the direction of propagation of phase 3 spike bursts of the migrating motor complex was always aboral. During phase 2, most spike bursts were uncoordinated at adjacent recording sites. Propagated spike bursts, single or repetitive, were rare. The propagation direction of these spike bursts was always aboral in healthy controls. In symptomatic patients with inverted slow wave frequency gradients, however, the rare propagated spike bursts always propagated orally. The observed electrical abnormalities may in part be responsible for the symptoms of patients with the Roux-en-Y syndrome.