PS01.003: EVALUATION OF BOTH STANDARD AND NOVEL HRM METRICS OF THE UPPER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER (UES) IN ACHALASIA AND REFLUX DISEASE. APPLICATION OF THE CONTRACTILE INTEGRAL IN THE UES

Abstract

Abstract Background The literature is still lacking thorough manometric analysis of the function of the Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES) among patients with motility disorders. Assessment of the High Resolution Manometry (HRM) features of the UES may be the key in further understanding the manometric profile of achalasia and even predicting treatment outcome. Furthermore, the Contractile Integral (CI) may be a more representative measure of contractility of the UES too. Methods Achalasia patients (study group) and a control group of individuals underwent HRM. Resting pressure, residual pressure, UES length and the Landmark UES-CI corrected for respiration were analyzed and compared between the two groups. The UES-CI metric was calculated according to the method applied for the Distal Contractile Integral (DCI). Results 24 achalasia patients and 24 subjects consisting the control group with mean age 55.2 and 56.1, respectively, were enrolled. Although the mean UES length was found significantly lower in our study group (3.2 vs. 4.3, P = 0), mean residual pressure was found significantly higher among the same group as compared to controls (12.5 vs. 3, P = 0.01). Interestingly, we found a trend towards lower values of the corrected UES-CI in achalasia compared to the control group (132 vs. 207.8, P = 0.08). The resting pressure did not differ between the two groups. Conclusion Increased residual pressure values of the UES in achalasia compared to control group is a reasonable finding that indicates that UES may also be affected by the neuronal damage in this disorder or that the pressurization phenomenon (mainly in achalasia type II) disrupts the function of the UES during swallowing. However, results on the UES-CI in resting phase cannot confirm the hypothesis of higher risk of aspiration among achalasia patients whose esophageal lumen is known to present with incomplete clearance and stasis. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.