Abstract

The pattern of transpyloric fluid movement and associated antroduodenal motility was compared in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) and healthy controls using real time ultrasonic imaging. A similar number of cyclical periods of antroduodenal motor activity (GOR 94 and control 91) was studied in each group. Mean antral cycle times and the frequency of occurrence of related proximal duodenal contractions (antroduodenal coordination) were similar. Transpyloric fluid movement occurred as a number of discrete episodes in each cycle. Gastroduodenal flow was more frequent in the GOR group (mean 2.7 +/- 0.4 episodes per cycle) than in controls (mean 1.7 +/- 0.3). The mean duration of these episodes in both groups was similar at around 2.5 seconds. Duodenogastric flow (reflux) was observed in many cycles (GOR 63%; controls 54%), but there was no difference in the mean number of episodes per cycle (GOR 0.79; control 0.74) or their mean duration (two seconds for both). Transpyloric fluid flow only occurs when a pressure gradient is created across the open pylorus. These observations indicate that in GOR the gastroduodenal pressure gradient is positive more frequently than in normal controls. Gastroduodenal liquid flow but not duodenogastric reflux differs in GOR patients and controls.