Calculation of esophageal variceal wall tension by ultrasonic microprobe and noninvasive pressure measurements.
OBJECTIVE
To calculate esophageal variceal wall tension by sonographic and noninvasive pressure measurements and to study the role of esophageal variceal wall tension in predicting the likelihood of esophageal variceal rupture.


METHODS
In 28 patients with esophageal varices, a 20 MHz ultrasonographic transducer was used to image esophageal varices; the radius and wall thickness of the varices were calculated. Esophageal variceal pressure measurements were obtained noninvasively. The correlation between the esophageal wall tension and esophageal variceal pressure gradient were studied.


RESULTS
There was a linear correlation between the esophageal wall tension and the variceal pressure gradient after curve fitting (r=0.87, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Esophageal variceal wall tension is an important parameter in predicting variceal rupture.
Zhu
Saihong
S
Department of General Surgery, 3rd Affiliated Xiangya Hospital, Central-South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, P.R. China.
Liu
Xunyang
X
Huang
Feizhou
F
Nei
Wanping
W
Liu
Bo
B
Li
Reizheng
R
Cai
Lifeng
L
Wang
Wei
W
Yang
Minshi
M
Ren
Shuping
S
D000328:Adult; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography