Published online Sep 15, 1996. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v2.iSuppl1.177
Revised: January 21, 1996
Accepted: June 5, 1996
Published online: September 15, 1996
AIM: Today, a 24-h esophageal pH monitoring is commonly recognized as the best quantitative study and widely used in the clinical practice. The aim is to investigate the changes of conditions in esophagus of cardiac cancer patients.
METHODS: 11 cardiac cancer patients, 24-h pH monitoring was done before and after cardiectomy. We studied with double electrode 24-h esophageal pH monitoring for one week before the operation and 2 wk after it.
RESULTS: There was a mild gastroesophageal acid reflux before the operation (total time pH < 4: 2.4% ± 1.8%). Though the value is in the physiological range, but it should be considered that the phenomenon is caused by the structure of cardiac destroyed and the time of diet prolongs, and thus the amount of secreting gastric acid increases. Some anti reflux operations have been practiced in the cardiectomy. But a severe gastroesophageal acid reflux also appears after the operation total time pH < 4: 20.9% ± 12.7%). So we think that the completion of structure of cardiac and abnormal esophagus plays important roles in the anti reflux function. In the condition of negative pressure in the chest cavity, extended remnant of stomach making gastric acid increase is the source of acid reflux.
CONCLUSION: Attention should be paid to the designed way of anti reflux operation in cardiectomy, the treatment of anti reflux drug and living of the patients after the operation.