Frequency of gastroesophageal reflux events induced by pharyngeal
water stimulation in young and elderly.
Xie, Pengyan, Junlong Ren, Eytan Bardan, Ravinder K. Mittal, Zhumei
Sui, Reza Shaker.
MCW Dysphagia Institute, the Departments of Medicine, Radiology and
Otolaryngology and Human Communication, The Medical College of
Wisconsin; and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
The First Teaching Hospital, Beijing Medical University, Beijing,
Peoples Republic of China, and the University of Virginia, Health
Sciences Center, Charlottesville, Virginia
APStracts 3:0200G, 1996.
Earlier studies have shown that isolated complete lower esophageal
sphincter relaxation occurs as a result of pharyngeal water
stimulation. Association of these relaxation's with gastroesophageal
reflux has not been systematically studied. Our aim was to determine
this association in young and elderly during precibal and post
-prandial periods. Methods: We studied 8 young and 10 elderly for 1 hr
before and 2 hr after a 1000 calorie meal. Results: In both groups,
during the precibal period, negligible numbers of LESR induced by
pharyngeal water stimulation resulted in GER. In the post-prandial
period gastroesophageal reflux events occurred following 16% of
pharyngeal water injections in young and 44% in elderly
(P<0.05). Intra-abdominal length of LES in the elderly was
significantly shorter compared to the young (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Gastroesophageal reflux events induced by pharyngeal
water stimulation in postprandial period is significantly increased
compared to that of precibal period and are significantly more
prevalent in the elderly compared to the young. These differences
seem to be associated with a significantly shorter intra-abdominal
segment of the LES in the elderly.
Received 14 February 1996; accepted in final form 30 August 1996.
APS Manuscript Number G57-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 7 October 1996