153 THE CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF INCOMPLETE BOLUS CLEARANCE IN PATIENTS WITH DYSPHAGIA

Abstract

Abstract The primary function of the esophagus is to facilitate bolus transport to the stomach. High-resolution manometry assesses the functions of esophageal motility, but not the clearance of bolus transit through the esophagus. The development of combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and manometry (MII-EM) has enabled simultaneous measurement of bolus transport and manometry. This study investigated the effects of bolus transit on esophageal motility disorders and its effect on the quality of life of patients with dysphagia. Methods A total of 810 wet swallows were reviewed and analyzed in 81 patients with dysphagia who underwent MII-EM. Incomplete bolus clearance (IBC) was defined based on impedance measurement. IBC was classified into four types (A: normal, B: incomplete clearance in the upper esophagus, C: incomplete clearance in the lower esophagus, D: incomplete clearance of the whole esophagus), and was also evaluated according to the appearance rate of complete bolus transit. Then, the clinical significance of IBC was determined by our previously validated dysphagia symptom score and the SF8 quality of life instrument (physical component summary and mental component summary). Results There were 16 cases of esophageal achalasia (Ach), 9 of esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO), 8 of distal esophageal spasm (DES), 7 of Jackhammer esophagus (JE), 2 of absent contractility (AC), 10 of ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) and 29 normal cases. The figure shows the breakdown of IBC for each disorder. Complete bolus transit was found in 27.8% in EGJOO, 52.5% in DES, 14.2% in JE, 4.0% in IEM, and 83.3% in normal; no CBT was found in Ach and AC. Patients with IBC had significantly higher dysphagia symptom scores (p < 0.05) and lower mental component summaries (p < 0.05) than those without. Conclusion Patients with dysphagia with esophageal dysmotility were classified into two groups: those with and without IBC. Assessment of bolus transport is an important clinical marker for patients with dysphagia, because those with IBC had a significantly higher dysphagia symptom scores and impaired quality of life.