Correlation of several methods for recording esophageal sphincteral pressures

Summary Three balloons of different size were used to obtain pressures in the esopha-geal sphincters of 21 healthy young subjects. In 12 of these we had the opportunity to repeat the studies using perfused open-tip methods, and in 10 of these 12, three methods were correlated. The constantly perfused open-tip tubes were pulled through the sphincter intermittently and continuously. The balloons were pulled through the sphincter continuously.The pressures in the inferior sphincter varied with the size of the balloon tip and with respiration but not with rate of perfusion or the lumen from which pressures were recorded. The pressures in the superior sphincter varied with all four parameters. If the four parameters were properly chosen, similar mean values and correlation of the values obtained by the various methods in an individual patient were obtained. The advantages and disadvantages of the various methods were discussed briefly.Supported by the Mount Carmel Research and Education Corporation.