Toshihiko Okabayashi

Intraluminal pressure study of the esophagus and its clinical significance

Subjects of the present investigation are 20 control cases free from upper gastrointestinal diseases and nine cases with achalasia. Intraluminal pressure of the esophagus was measured with the use of an open-tip method. In the control cases, presence of W-shape pattern with three high pressure zones and two low pressure zones were verified. On the basis of this W-shape pattern, analysis was made of the resting pressure of the esophagus in nine cases with aehalasia. The results led to classify into four types. These are; disappearance of the W-shape pattern with the lowest resting pressure above 5 emH20 (Type 1), same as the above exeept for the lowest pressure below 5 cmH20 (Type II), prcsence of W-shape pattern with the lowest resting pressure above 5 cmH20 (Type III) and same as the above except for the lowest resting pressure below 5 emH20 (Type IV). Analytical data of the achalasia cases relatively well correlated with clinical findings and clarified significance of the pressure study for diagnosis and judgment of symptomatic severity. In analysis of deglutition pressure waves, it seems convenient to locate a point of pressure measurement in view of three high pressure zones and two low pressure zones.

Intraluminal lead of the gastric action potential with suction needle electrode

In the past, extraluminal leading of the gastric action potentials had been used experimentally and clinically with satisfactory results, while intraluminal leading had been attempted only by a few researchers because of technical difficulty and the electromyograms obtained with this method were not entirely satisfactory.A new suction needle electrode was devised by us to lead the gastric action potentials intraluminally. Electromyograms of the stomach from 10 human beings and 10 dogs led with this electrode proved to be quite similar to those led with the the needle electrode from the serosal aspect of the stomach.With this method, constant and satisfactory electromyograms may be recorded from the mucosal aspect of the stomach, thus eliminating general anesthesia and laparotomy. Easier and wider use of electromygoraphy of the stomach in the clincial as well as research field is expected.