To evaluate the motility of the esophageal phase of swallowing among brainstem stroke survivors

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the motility of the esophagus while swallowing of brainstem stroke survivors. Methods Eighteen patients and 10 healthy subjects were included in the study. There was no significant difference in average age, gender, weight or body mass index between the two groups. All underwent high-resolution esophageal manometry to assess esophageal motility while swallowing, and they were rated using the version 3.0 of the Chicago classification. Results Fourteen of the 18 stroke survivors displayed abnormal esophageal dynamics (77.8%), compared with only 10.0% of the healthy control group, but that difference was not statistically significant. The typical abnormalities were a lack of contraction, high pressure contractile esophagus, gastroesophageal junction outflow obstruction and/or distal esophageal spasm. Compared with the control group, the average resting pressure of the patients′ upper esophageal sphincters (UESs) was significantly lower, while the UES residual pressure and integrated relaxation pressure of their lower esophageal sphincters (LESs) were higher and the average UES relaxation time was significantly shorter. No significant differences were found in the LES resting pressures, distal contractile integrals or the distal latency between the two groups. Conclusions Abnormal esophageal motility is highly prevalent in brainstem stroke survivors and due attention should be paid to it. High-resolution manometry can be used to assess this condition. Key words: Manometry; Brainstem stroke; Swallowing; Esophageal motility; Chicago classification