Esophagitis produced by reflux of duodenal contents in rats

Summary

The presence or absence of postoperative reflux esophagitis in the rat at 1 month is dependent upon the type of anastomosis performed in the gastrointestinal tract. All rats with esophagojejunostomy and reflux of alkaline duodenal and acid gastric secretions had esophagitis, as did all rats with esophagojejunostomy and total gastrectomy. When the esophagus was implanted in the prepyloric portion of the glandular stomach so that gastric secretions refluxed into the esophagus, esophagitis did not develop in any of the animals. When esophagojejunostomy with a duodenojejunal anastomosis was performed so that the pancreaticobiliary secretions emptied into the efferent loop of the jejunum, none of the rats had esophagitis. When esophagojejunostomy with total gastrectomy and duodenojejunal anastomosis was performed so that the pancreaticobiliary secretions were diverted into the jejunum distal to the esophagojejunostomy, none of the animals had esophagitis. When esophagojejunostomy with high ligation of the biliary duct was performed, only 6 of 10 animals had a mild esophagitis.

Conclusion

In the rat, reflux esophagitis develops when duodenal contents reflux into the esophagus. The pancreaticobiliary secretion is the injurious factor, pancreatic juice being less important than bile. Acid secretion does not produce esophagitis under the conditions of the experiment described.