The endoluminal pressures during flexible gastrointestinal endoscopy

Abstract

In flexible gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, endoscopic insufflation is crucial and directly affects visualization. Optimal visualization enables endoscopists to conduct better examinations and administer optimal treatments. However, endoscopic insufflation is typically performed manually and is subjective. We aimed to measure the GI endoluminal pressure during flexible GI endoscopy. Participants underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) at our endoscopy center. Pressure measurement was conducted after completing diagnostic or follow-up EGD. The endoluminal pressure in the esophagus and stomach was measured at 1-s intervals for 1 min while performing EGD for observational and diagnostic purposes. During the measurements, the endoscopists maintained what they subjectively considered to be adequate exposure for screening for lesions by dilating the lumen. Eighty patients were enrolled in this study. The upper GI endoluminal pressure was assessed during EGD without adverse events. The esophageal endoluminal pressure averaged 8.9 (− 3.0 to 20.7) mmHg, and the gastric endoluminal pressure averaged 10.0 (3.0–17.9) mmHg; the upper GI endoluminal pressures were not affected by patient-related factors or the number of endoscopists’ postgraduate years. We have successfully obtained the GI endoluminal pressures during EGD. Further accumulation of these data may lead to more stable and reproducible flexible endoscopic diagnosis and intervention.