Gastroenterology
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The contribution of the crural diaphragm to the gastroesophageal high pressure zone (HPZ) may be important in prevention of gastroesophageal reflux. The purpose of this study was to investigate the manometric characteristics of the thoracoabdominal junction in patients after surgical removal of the lower esophageal sphincter. ⋯ This study shows an HPZ at the thoracoabdominal junction after surgical removal of the lower esophageal sphincter. We suggest that this sphincterlike HPZ is due to the crural diaphragm.