Gastro-oesophageal pressure gradient changes produced by induction of anaesthesia and suxamethonium
Smith, G.; Dalling, R.; Williams, T.I.
British Journal of Anaesthesia 50(11): 1137-1143
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0007-0912 PMID: 718784 Document Number: 124805
The pressures in the lower esophageal sphincter (high pressure zone or HPZ) and stomach were measured in 15 patients with duodenal ulcer and 14 patients with no gastrointestinal disease. All the patients were premedicated with morphine 10 mg i.m. In the patients without duodenal ulcer, the pressure gradient between HPZ and stomach was 6.6 .+-. 0.62 mm Hg (mean .+-. SEM ) before diminishing to 4.9 .+-. 0.86 after induction of anesthesia with thiopentone. During fasciculations following i.v. suxamethonium, the gradient increased to 7.1 .+-. 1.0 mm Hg. In patients with duodenal ulcer, although the absolute pressures were less, the gradients were similar to those in healthy patients. There is no increased risk of regurgitation during fasciculations induced by suxamethonium.