Gastroesophageal reflux and gastric emptying, revisited

Abstract

Total gastric emptying is delayed in 10% to 33% of adult patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but a strong correlation between duration of gastric emptying and severity of acid reflux or esophagitis has never been proved. Previous studies reported that patients with GERD might have exaggerated postprandial fundus relaxation with retention of food and triggering of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESRs). There is a positive correlation between postprandial fundus relaxation and number of TLESRs and also between proximal gastric emptying and esophageal acid exposure. However, new studies suggest that a high number of TLESRs and reflux events may occur even with accelerated gastric emptying, and prolonged gastric retention might be associated with less rather than more esophageal acid exposure. Using simultaneous gastric emptying and esophageal pH impedance we found that the rate of gastric emptying might determine the acidity and proximal extent of reflux: The slower the emptying, the higher the pH and proximal extent of the refluxate.