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Esophageal Motor Patterns During Episodes of Dysphagia for Solids
Author(s) -
Howard Philip J.,
Maher Lesley,
Pryde Anne,
Heading Robert C.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
neurogastroenterology and motility
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.489
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1365-2982
pISSN - 1350-1925
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2982.1991.tb00057.x
Subject(s) - dysphagia , peristalsis , asymptomatic , medicine , esophageal motility disorder , gastroenterology , esophagus , surgery , achalasia
Although dysphagia for solids is a common complaint, the motor response to eating is not routinely studied during diagnostic manometry. Esophageal motility was examined in 47 patients with a history of dysphagia and 34 patients without dysphagia. In 22 of those with dysphagia, the symptoms were reproduced in the laboratory when the patients ate bread. These patients had a higher swallow frequency, reduced peristaltic swallow rate, and an increased rate of synchronous contractions compared to patients without dysphagia. In 22 of 53 separate episodes of dysphagia, a mixed pattern of esophageal motility was seen with peristaltic synchronous and nonconducted swallows (although peristaltic swallows were <50% of total swallows). In 26 of 53 episodes, dysphagia was associated with complete aperistalsis. Mean swallow frequency increased during episodes of dysphagia compared to asymptomatic periods. Swallow rate is an important determinant of esophageal motility during eating. Dysphagia is associated with either aperistalsis or markedly reduced peristaltic activity and may be produced, or exacerbated, by an increased swallow frequency. Our results indicate that assessment of motility patterns during eating is important in the examination of patients complaining of dysphagia.