ANALYSIS OF REFLUX ESOPHAGITIS AND MUCOSA OF THE GASTRIC TUBE AFTER ESOPHAGECTOMY WITH GASTRIC TUBE RECONSTRUCTION

Abstract

[Purpose]The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between reflux esophagitis of residual esophagus (RE-re) and the state of the gastric mucosa and the acidity of the gastric tube of the patients who had undergone esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction for thoracic esophageal carcinoma. [Methods]A series of 117 patients underwent upper endoscopy, biopsy of gastric tube mucosa and the pH of the gastric tube was measured. RE-re was graded according to the Los Angeles classification System (LA grade). We measured the pH at the upper gastric tube under direct vision through an endoscope using a micro-pH glass electrode. A biopsy of the mucosa was taken from the upper part and the lower part of the gastric tube, and we assessed Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, mucous atrophy and intestinal metaplasia (IM). [Result]As for the cases in whom Hp infection progressed, the pH of the gastric tube was high and RE-re outbreak decreased. Similarly, as for the cases in whom atrophy and IM progressed, the pH of the gastric tube was high and RE-re outbreak decreased. [Conclusion]It was thought that RE-re had a close relationship with Hp infection and the mucosa of the gastric tube.