Journal of medicine
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Journal of medicine · Jan 1987
Lower esophageal sphincter pressure and gastroesophageal pressure gradients in excessively obese patients.
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship of the gastroesophageal pressure gradient (GEPG) to lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) in normal and in severely obese subjects. Eight lean volunteers with no clinical evidence of gastroesophageal reflux and eight asymptomatic severely obese patients (at least 80% over their ideal weight) underwent esophageal manometric studies with measurements of the LESP and GEPG in both inspiration and expiration. The LESP/GEPG ratio was also calculated in both inspiration and expiration. ⋯ None of the normal subjects exhibited acid sensitivity, but 6 of the 7 obese patients tested developed heartburn during acid infusion. In conclusion, the GEPG/LESP ratio in inspiration was greater than unity for obese patients inspite of normal LESP. Such a change in the ratio could facilitate reflux in obese patients.