New method for quantitative evaluation of esophageal sensibility.
A method for quantitating esophagus sensibility by an electric stimulation test is described. Square stimulus waveform at different voltages and durations were transmitted to the esophagus, three series of electric stimuli being used in successive durations (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 ms); in each series the voltage discharge was increased progressively from 0 mV, until the subject noted the first sensation. This procedure was carried out at all esophageal levels. The following parameters were analyzed: sensitive threshold along the esophagus; the relation of threshold sensibility (mV) duration of stimulus (ms), and reobase and cronaxia for each esophageal level. At all esophageal levels, the sensitive threshold was regular and coherent; in the middle esophagus a zone was found having higher sensitive threshold than the proximal and distal esophageal zones. The relationship between sensitive threshold and inverse of the stimulus duration indicated that esophageal sensibility follows the basic law of excitation of WEISS, at least with this type of stimulus, reobase and cronaxia being representative of the sensibility threshold along the esophagus. Quantitative esophageal sensibility, therefore is concluded to be particularly suited to evaluation by electric stimulation.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000502:physiology*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male