Lower esophageal sphincter pressure before and after paracentesis in cirrhotic patients with intractable ascites.
Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure was measured in 7 cirrhotic patients with massive ascites, before and after paracentesis. The mean LES pressure was 19.8 +/- 2.2 SEM mm Hg before and 16.3 +/- 1.4 SEM mm Hg after paracentesis (p less than 0.05). It is concluded that cirrhotic patients with massive ascites are protected from reflux esophagitis by having an increased LES pressure.
D000328:Adult; D001201:Ascites / Q000150:complications*; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000209:etiology; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D013396:Suction