GASTRIC-EMPTYING OF SOLID MEALS IN ACHALASIC PATIENTS AFTER SUCCESSFUL PNEUMATIC DILATATION OF THE CARDIA

Gastric emptying of a solid meal was measured by ultrasound scanning i n 16 achalasic patients following successful pneumatic dilatation of t he lower esophageal sphincter. The data were compared with those of a control group of 15 healthy subjects. Fasting and maximal postcibal an tral sections were very similar in the two groups. On the contrary, th e time interval before maximal antral dilatation, and the time necessa ry for the emptying of half or of the whole meal were significantly lo nger in the achalasic patients than in the controls. Half of the achal asic patients had longer emptying times than the upper normal limit. T he percentage of the meal retained in the antrum at each hourly interv al was significantly higher in the achalasic group. The finding of a h igh prevalence of gastric emptying disturbances suggests that the func tional derangement in achalasia is not limited to the esophagus.