Conclusion
Theories of the mechanism of gastroesophageal junction competence have seesawed between strictly anatomic explanations, focusing on type-I hiatus hernia, and physiologic explanations focusing on the vigor of LES contraction while ignoring the significance of anatomic factors. As detailed above, current thinking recognizes contributions from both sphincteric components. Furthermore, there is an increasing understanding of mechanical elements of the antireflux barrier, inclusive of, but nor restricted to hiatus hernia and the intrinsic LES. Thus, our view of GERD pathogenesis as it pertains to EGJ competence is now focusing on quantifying the mechanical properties of this complex anatomical zone. Future research will likely focus on methods to measure EGJ compliance and elasticity, as these are the mechanical parameters that influence gastroesophageal reflux.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Kahrilas PJ, Lin S, Chen J, Manka M (1999) The effect of hiatus hernia on gastro-oesophageal junction pressure. Gut 44(4): 476–482
Liebermann-Meffert D, Allgower M, Schmid P, Blum AL (1979) Muscular equivalent of the lower esophageal sphincter. Gastroenterology 76(1): 31–38
Kahrilas PJ (1997) Anatomy and physiology of the gastroesophageal junction. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 26(3): 467–486
Dent J, Dodds WJ, Friedman RH et al (1980) Mechanism of gastroesophageal reflux in recumbent asymptomatic human subjects. J Clin Invest 65(2): 256–267
Goyal RK, Rattan S (1976) Genesis of basal sphincter pressure: effect of tetrodotoxin on lower esophageal sphincter pressure in opossum in vivo. Gastroenterology 71(1): 62–67
Goyal RK, Rattan S (1975) Nature of the vagal inhibitory innervation to the lower esophageal sphincter. J Clin Invest 55(5): 1119–1126
Yamato S, Saha JK, Goyal RK (1992) Role of nitric oxide in lower esophageal sphincter relaxation to swallowing. Life Sci 50(17): 1263–1272
Richards WG, Sugarbaker DJ (1995) Neuronal control of esophageal function. Chest Surg Clin N Am 5(1): 157–171
Marchand P (1959) The anatomy of the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm and the pathogenesis of hiatus herniation. Thorac Surg 37: 81–92
Barrett NR (1932) Discussion on hiatus hernia. Proc R Soc Med 122: 736–796
Schatzki R (1932) Die Hernien des Hiatus oesophageus. Deutsches Arch F Klin Med 173: 85–103
Low A (1907) A note on the crura of the diaphragm nd the muscle of treitsz. J Anatomy Lond 42: 93–96
Kahrilas PJ, Wu S, Lin S, Pouderoux P (1995) Attenuation of esophageal shortening during peristalsis with hiatus hernia. Gastroenterology 109(6): 1818–1825
De Troyer A, Sampson M, Sigrist S, Macklem PT (1982) Action of costal and crural parts of the diaphragm on the rib cage in dog. J Appl Physiol 53(1): 30–39
Altschuler SM, Boyle JT, Nixon TE, Pack AI, Cohen S (1985) Simultaneous reflex inhibition of lower esophageal sphincter and crural diaphragm in cats. Am J Physiol 249 (5 Pt 1): G586–G591
Mittal RK, Fisher M, McCallum RW, Rochester DF, Dent J, Sluss J (1990) Human lower esophageal sphincter pressure response to increased intra-abdominal pressure. Am J Physiol 258 (4 Pt 1): G624–G630
Klein WA, Parkman HP, Dempsey DT, Fisher RS (1993) Sphincterlike thoracoabdominal high-pressure zone after esophagogastrectomy. Gastroenterology 105(5): 1362–1369
Skinner DB (1985) Hernias (hiatal, traumatic and congnital). In: Gastroenterology (Berk JE, ed), 4th ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders, pp 705–716
Pandolfino JE, Shi G, Cisler J, Joehl RJ, Brasseur JG, Kahrilas PJ (2002) Opening characteristics of the relaxed EGJ during low-pressure distention in normal subjects and hiatus hernia patients. Gastroenterology 122(4): 430–450
Allison PR (1951) Reflux esophagitis, sliding hiatal hernai and the anatomy of repair. Surg Gynecol Obstet 92: 419–431
Rigler LG, Eneboe JB (1935) Incidence of hiatus hernia in pregnant women and its significance. J Thorac Surg 4: 262–268
Marchand P (1957) A study of the forces productive of gastroesophageal regurgitation through the diaphragmatic hiatus. Thorax 12: 189–202
Paterson WG, Kolyn DM (1994) Esophageal shortening induced by short-term intraluminal acid perfusion in opossum: a cause for hiatus hernia? Gastroenterology 107(6): 1736–1740
Kahrilas PJ (1993) Hiatus hernia: fact or fiction? Gullet 3(Suppl): 21
Perdikis G, Hinder RA (1995) Paraesophageal hernia. In: Hernia (Nyhus LM, Condon RE, eds). Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, p 544
Postlethwait RW (1979) Surgery of the esophagus. Norwalk: Appleton Century-Crofts
Thor KB, Hill LD, Mercer DD, Kozarek RD (1987) Reappraisal of the flap valve mechanism in the gastroesophageal junction. A study of a new valvuloplasty procedure in cadavers. Acta Chir Scand 153(1): 25–28
Hill LD, Kozarek RA, Kraemer SJ et al (1996) The gastroesophageal flap valve: in vitro and in vivo observations. Gastrointest Endosc 44(5): 541–547
Mittal RK, Holloway RH, Penagini R, Blackshaw LA, Dent J (1995) Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation. Gastroenterology 109(2): 601–610
Holloway RH, Penagini R, Ireland AC (1995) Criteria for objective definition of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation. Am J Physiol 268 (Pt 1): G128–G133
Wyman JB, Dent J, Heddle R, Dodds WJ, Toouli J, Downton J (1990) Control of belching by the lower oesophageal sphincter. Gut 31(6): 639–646
Sifrim D, Tack J, Lerut T, Janssens J (2000) Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations and esophageal body muscular contractile response in reflux esophagitis. Dig Dis Sci 45(7): 1293–1300
van Herwaarden MA, Samsom M, Smout AJ (2000) Excess gastroesophageal reflux in patients with hiatus hernia is caused by mechanisms other than transient LES relaxations. Gastroenterology 119(6): 1439–1446
Sloan S, Rademaker AW, Kahrilas PJ (1992) Determinants of gastroesophageal junction incompetence: hiatal hernia, lower esophageal sphincter, or both? Ann Intern Med 117(12): 977–982
Dent J, Holloway RH, Toouli J, Dodds WJ (1988) Mechanisms of lower oesophageal sphincter incompetence in patients with symptomatic gastrooesophageal reflux. Gut 29(8): 1020–1028
Kahrilas PJ, Dodds WJ, Hogan WJ, Kern M, Arndorfer RC, Reece A (1986) Esophageal peristaltic dysfunction in peptic esophagitis. Gastroenterology 91(4): 897–904
Ott DJ, Gelfand DW, Wu WC et al (1984) Esophagogastric region and its rings. Amer J Roentgenol 142: 281–287
Berstad A, Weberg R, Froyshov Larsen I, Hoel B, Hauer-Jensen M (1986) Relationship of hiatus hernia to reflux oesophagitis. A prospective study of coincidence, using endoscopy. Scand J Gastroenterol 21(1): 55–58
Wright RA (1979) Relationship of hiatal hernia in endoscopically proved reflux esophagitis. Dig Dis Sci 24: 311–313
Petersen H, Johannessen T, Sandvik AK et al (1991) Relationship between endoscopic hiatus hernia and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. Scand J Gastroenterol 26(9): 921–926
Sontag SJ, Schnell TG, Miller TQ et al (1991) The importance of hiatal hernia in reflux esophagitis compared with lower esophageal sphincter pressure or smoking. J Clin Gastroenterol 13(6): 628–643
Jones MP, Sloan SS, Rabine JC, Ebert CC, Huang CF, Kahrilas PJ (2001) Hiatal hernia size is the dominant determinant of esophagitis presence and severity in gastroesophageal reflux disease. Am J Gastroenterol 96(6): 1711–1777
Cameron AJ (1999) Barrett’s esophagus: prevalence and size of hiatal hernia. Am J Gastroenterol 94(8): 2054–2059
Mittal RK, Rochester DF, McCallum RW (1987) Effect of the diaphragmatic contraction on lower oesophageal sphincter pressure in man. Gut 28(12): 1564–1568
Marchand P (1970) The surgery for hiatus hernia: is vagotomy rational? S Afr Med J 44(2): 35–39
Michelson E, Siegel C (1964) The role of the phrenicoesophageal ligament in the lower esophageal sphincter. Surg Gynecol Obstet 118: 1291–1294
Kahrilas PJ, Lin S, Manka M, Shi G, Joehl RJ (2000) Esophagogastric junction pressure topography after fundoplication. Surgery 127(2): 200–208
Contractor QQ, Akhtar SS, Contractor TQ (1999) Endoscopic esophagitis and gastroesophageal flap valve. J Clin Gastroenterol 28(3): 233–237
Pandolfino JE, Bianchi L, Lee TJ, Hirano I, Kahrilas PJ (2004) Esophagogastric junction morphology predicts susceptibility to exercise-induced reflux. Am J Gastroenterol (accepted)
Pandolfino JE, Shi G, Manka M, Joehl RJ, Brasseur JG, Kahrilas PJ (2000) EGJ opening with hiatal hernia: lower-pressure threshold, wider diameter. Gastroenterology 118: A860
Pandolfino JE, Shi G, Trueworthy B, Kahrilas PJ (2003) Esophagogastric junction opening during relaxation distinguishes nonhernia reflux patients, hernia patients, and normal subjects. Gastroenterology 125(4): 1018–1024
van Herwaarden MA, Samsom M, Smout AJ (2001) Prolonged manometric recordings of oesophagus and lower oesophageal sphincter in achalasia patients.Gut 49(6): 813–821
Pandolfino JE, Kahrilas PJ (2001) Esophagel motility abnormalities in Barrett’s esophagus. In: Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma (Sharma P, Sampliner RE, eds). Malden: Blackwell Science, pp 35–44
Kahrilas PJ (1992) Cigarette smoking and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Dig Dis 10(2): 61–71
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2006 Springer-Verlag/Wien
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kahrilas, P.J., Pandolfino, J.E. (2006). EGJ Dysfunction and GERD. In: Granderath, F.A., Kamolz, T., Pointner, R. (eds) Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-211-32317-1_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-211-32317-1_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna
Print ISBN: 978-3-211-23589-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-211-32317-5
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)