Gastroscopic Dynamics of Gastric Mucosa in Relation to Intragastric Pressure

Summary

Distensibility of gastric mucosa were investigated by endoscopic observation in relation to the intragastric pressure after the stomach is inflated by calculated amount of the air.

1. The intragastric pressure is almost proportional to the inflated volume of the air, and draws a slightly concave curve, not a straight line.

2. The relationship between intragastric pressure and the distension in response to the gastric rugae was investigated and the rugae were distended into the increasing intragastric pressure. Gastric rugae were classified into three groups (F-I, F-II, F-III) by the distension. Giant rugae (F-III) were not distended and were still tortuous at maximal pressure.

3. Endoscopic criteria of atrophic gastritis may be set up by the degree of appearance of the submucosal blood vessels in relation to intragastric pressure. The clearer the vessel visualization, the more marked the atrophy of mucosa. In these terms atrophy of the mucosa was classified into three groups A-I, A-II, A-III).

4. Distensibility of the upper portion of the stomach was studied. The fornix and esophagogastric junction was also distended according to the intragastric pressure.

Key-Words

Intragastric pressure - distensibility of gastric mucosa