Parietal cell vagotomy: its effect on lower exophageal sphincter function.

Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function was studied before and after parietal cell vagotomy in 11 patients with duodenal ulcer, none of whom experienced postoperative symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. No changes were noted in any of the following variables measured: amplitude of LES pressure (before operation, 12.7 +/- 1.18 mm Hg; after operation, 13.7 +/- 0.73 mm Hg), length of LES (before, 3.85 +/- 0.15 cm; after, 3.73 +/- 0.17 cm), and adaptive response of LES (before, 1.26 +/- 0.23; after 1.31 +/- 0.16). In man, LES possesses intrinsic tone, presumably related to tonic, myogenic activity independent of an extrinsic nerve supply.