Calculation of esophageal variceal wall tension by ultrasonic microprobe and noninvasive pressure measurements.

OBJECTIVE

To calculate esophageal variceal wall tension by sonographic and noninvasive pressure measurements and to study the role of esophageal variceal wall tension in predicting the likelihood of esophageal variceal rupture.

METHODS

In 28 patients with esophageal varices, a 20 MHz ultrasonographic transducer was used to image esophageal varices; the radius and wall thickness of the varices were calculated. Esophageal variceal pressure measurements were obtained noninvasively. The correlation between the esophageal wall tension and esophageal variceal pressure gradient were studied.

RESULTS

There was a linear correlation between the esophageal wall tension and the variceal pressure gradient after curve fitting (r=0.87, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Esophageal variceal wall tension is an important parameter in predicting variceal rupture.