Abstract
Nocturnal continuous recordings of esophageal intraluminal pH and gastroesophageal pressure were obtained in ten recumbent healthy subjects. A manometric tube with seven recording lumens monitored swallowing action in pharynx, esophageal-body motor activity, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and gastric pressure. An electrode 5 cm above LES recorded pH. All subjects showed the results as following: 1) Resting LES pressure (LESP) revealed wide variations in the course of time, which were closely related to the gastric phasic motor activity, that is, LESP increased gradually during interdigestive state, higher during phase II than phase I, then highest during phase III. 2) Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) occurred most frequently in the stage of low LESP, but a number of GER episodes also occurred even in the stage of high LESP. The majority of GER were suspected to occur only during the episodes of LES relaxation which were either spontaneous or associated with swallowing and esophageal-body movements. 3) Following GER, esophageal-body motor activity increased; especially primary peristalsis after GER was suspected to be the major type of esophageal contraction for the refluxed acid clearance.
