An electromyographic study on the canine esophageal motility following transection operations for esophageal varices

Abstract

By the method of esophageal varices operation in 25 dogs, esophageal myoelectric activity was compared with EMG. Five groups were used each group having 5 dogs, (1) was the control group, (2) had a transverse incision on the esophageal muscle layer, (3) had a longitudinal incision on the same muscle layer, (4) had vagotomy of the high position, and (5) had vagotomy of the low position. The esophageal myoelectric activity of the dogs was recorded after swallowing by means of chronically implanted electrodes. The following results were obtained: According to the action potential pattern, the longitudinal incision group has better esophageal motor function than the transverse incision group. For the 2nd pair of groups, the low position vagotomy group have better function than the high group.