Length of the esophagus in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus compared to controls.
BACKGROUND
It is a current opinion among surgeons that the esophagus is shorter in patients with reflux disease and particularly in those with complicated Barrett's esophagus. However, objective evidence of this is scarce. Therefore we attempted to determine the occurrence and magnitude of this phenomenon among our patients.


METHODS
One hundred ninety control subjects, 77 patients with severe erosive esophagitis, 74 with Barrett's esophagus, and 29 with complicated Barrett's esophagus (ulcer, stenosis) were grouped according to height. The length of the esophagus was determined by standard manometric study, measuring the distance from the crycopharingeal sphincter to the distal limit of the lower esophageal sphincter. Values were expressed in cm as the mean +/- SD.


RESULTS
The esophageal length according to height was 1 to 2 cm shorter in patients compared to controls, but these differences were not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
No differences were found between patients with progressive severity of the disease. This study confirms that the presence of a so-called "short esophagus" does not exist or is not relevant in our patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, including those with complicated Barrett's esophagus.
Korn
Owen
O
Department of Surgery, Clinical Hospital, University of Chile, Santos Dumont 999, Santiago, Chile.
Csendes
Attila
A
Burdiles
Patricio
P
Braghetto
Italo
I
Sagastume
Héctor
H
Biagini
Leandro
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D002299:Cardia / Q000473:pathology; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies