We indicate share backward flow gastro-œsophagien (or RGO) the passage in the oesophagus of part of the gastric contents. It is a generally intermittent phenomenon which can occur at everyone and mainly after the meal, i.e. in period postprandiale. When the backward flow gastro-oesophagien becomes frequent and source of complications, one speaks about pathological backward flow gastro-œsophagien.
Today, it is estimated that 30 to 45 % of the Western population presents symptoms of RGO at least once a month and 5 to 10 % daily! The backward flow gastro-œsophagien is largely more widespread than than we could believe. Indeed, in Canada for example, one estimates that 29% of the population would be inconvenienced by the backward flow gastro-oesophagien; they is also 44 % of the adult population in the United States and 45% of the French population which would have backward flows at least once a month.
The backward flow gastro-oesophagien is thus a disorder which causes the regurgitation of the contents of the stomach in the oesophagus. The interior of the oesophagus not being conceived to resist the acidity of the gastric juices, the ignition is done. Burns and other symptoms of irritation of the oesophagus quite as awkward follow then the ones as the others. Let us note that the language running wants that the backward flow gastro-oesophagien is to indicate in a reducing way to its principal symptom: the heartburn.
More precisely, the RGO is caused by a dysfunction of the lower sphincter oesophagien which is a muscular ring located at the junction of the oesophagus and stomach. When it functions normally, this sphincter oesophagien lower prevents the contents of the stomach from going up in the oesophagus. It only opens to let pass ingurgitée food.
On the other hand, we speak about backward flow when the sphincter opens at inadequate times. It then lets escape the contents from the stomach in the oesophagus, contents made up of gastric juices, which leaves room with the burns, the régurgitations, with irritations, etc….The regurgitation is more widespread besides in the infant in whom the sphincter is immature.
It is necessary to generally take guard with the various complications resulting from the RGO. If the oesophagus is too often exposed to acidity, that can for example generate an ignition called oesophagite, or of the ulcers oesophagiens.
