Electrical potentials in the normal esophagus and in hiatus hernia.

Abstract

THE CHANGES in electrical potential along the walls of the esophagus can be expected to reflect motor activity. The electrical activity may be recorded in a manner similar to that used in recording intraluminal pressure.1,2The present study is a comparison of hiatus hernia patients with a control group. Method Combined pressure-electrode probes were used, consisting of three open-end pressure tubes placed 5 cm or 2.5 cm apart. Silver ring electrodes were mounted adjacent to the open ends for recording the pressure and electrical potentials simultaneously from the same sites. The probe was introduced perorally into the esophagus and passed to a distance of about 50 cm distal to the upper incisor teeth. It was then withdrawn until the distal probe end was located 40 cm from the incisors. The external portion of the probe was taped to the chin. A series of recordings of pressure and electrical potentials