Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is recognized to be a multifactorial disease and several mechanisms leading to reflux have been described, nevertheless its pathophysiology has not been fully clarified. Hiatus hernia is a known risk factor for GERD since it impairs the esophagogastric junction, leading to: reduction in lower esophageal sphincter pressure; increase in the frequency of the ...

Achalasia cardia is a motility disorder, involving the distal esophagus, resulting in elevated lower esophageal sphincter pressure, increased intraesophageal pressure, incomplete relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter in response to deglutition and loss of esophageal peristalsis. It usually presents between third and fifth decades of life with the most common symptom of dysphagia. We present ...

Intravenous administration of dopamine produced a dose-dependent decrease in lower esophageal sphincter pressure and a dose dependent increase in contractile activity of the body of the esophagus. The threshold dose of dopamine was 0.25 mug/kg, and the effect reached a plateau at about 6 mug/kg. A dose of 6 mug/kg of dopamine produced 83%+/-3 (SE) reduction in the lower esophageal sphincter pre...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR) is the main mechanism of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of transient lower esophageal sphincter movement in patients with or without gastroesophageal reflux by high-resolution manometry (HRM). METHODS From June 2010 to July 2010, we enrolled 9 patients ...

Current parameters of the Chicago classification include assessment of the esophageal body (contraction vigour and peristalsis), lower esophageal sphincter relaxation pressure, and intra-bolus pressure pattern. Esophageal disorders include achalasia, esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction, major disorders of peristalsis, and minor disorders of peristalsis. Sub-classification of achalasia ...