Changes in lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LES) after Stamm gastrostomy

Previous clinical and experimental reports have implicated placement of a Stamm gastrostomy (SG) as a cause of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in children. This study evaluates this problem by measuring alterations in the lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LES) after SG with and without maintenance of the esophagogastric angle of Hiss. In 20 cats (2.8-3.2 kg) general anesthesia was induced using 20 mg/kg ketamine im. Esophageal manometrics were measured using a continuous perfusion catheter and recording system, evaluating three measurements for each animal. Eight cats (Group I) underwent SG placement in the anterior stomach wall two-thirds of the way down from the fundus. This was tacked to the anterior abdominal wall 3 cm lateral to the midline at the appropriate level. Six cats (Group II) had standard SG tube placement and in addition, two interrupted sutures were placed between the fundus and the esophagus maintaining the gastroesophageal angle of Hiss. Six cats (Group III) had sham laparotomy. After awakening, the animals were fed cat chow and water ad libitum. At 7 and 14 days, the animals were reanesthetized with ketamine and manometrics were repeated. Preoperative LES pressure measured 11.3 +/- 4.7 Torr. LES pressure in Group I decreased to 6.61 +/- 1.6 Torr at 7 days (P less than 0.01) and 4.8 +/- 1.6 Torr at 14 days postoperatively (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)