The precise mechanisms whereby gastro-oesophageal reflux disease causes reflux oesophagitis and Barrett's oesophagus are not clear, even though these diseases have been known to be linked for many years. Recent studies indicate a role for the reflux-induced inflammatory response of oesophageal squamous epithelial cells and the immune cells in the pathogenesis of reflux oesophagitis. Although re...

Introduction. Sharp, retained foreign bodies in the oesophagus are associated with severe complications. Developmentally delayed patients are especially subject to foreign objects. We describe a 37-year-old, developmentally delayed male with a mincer blade obstructing the oesophagus. Six months prior to surgical intervention, the patient was hospitalized in a condition of sepsis and pneumonia w...

Dysphagia is considered a warning symptom that requires exclusion of significant pathology such as oesophageal cancer, especially in elderly patients. Benign neoplasms of the oesophagus are rare. We report the case of a 69-year-old lady who presented with a five years history of infrequent intermittent dysphagia that had rapidly progressed over one month. This was associated with globus sensati...

BACKGROUND Intestinal metaplastic mucosa in Barrett's oesophagus can be replaced by squamous epithelium after mucosal thermal ablation associated with acid suppression therapy. AIMS To assess whether restoration of squamous epithelium can be obtained after ablation of Barrett's oesophagus using argon plasma coagulation (APC) associated with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. METHODS Thirt...

* A paper given at the inaugural meeting of the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons in London in July, 1954. Group 1: Lax Oesophagus When the incompetent cardia is situated belowthe diaphragm, we term the condition 'lax oesophagus'. It was first recognized as an entity distinct from hiatal hernia by Neuhauser and Berenberg in 1947. Although it is quite a common condition in babies, it ha...

A 40 year old man with dysphagia and a giant fibrovascular polyp of the oesophagus is reported. The patient was followed for two years before removal of the polyp. During this period the tumour markedly increased in size and the oesophagus reached a maximum diameter of 5.9 cm. In presence of the polyp the body of the oesophagus had no pressure activity after swallows and a 22 hour intraoesophag...