Manometric characteristics of the upper esophageal sphincter recorded with a microsleeve.
OBJECTIVE
We compared manometric recordings of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) recorded with a miniature sleeve to those obtained using standard manometry.


METHODS
The UES pressure of eight volunteer subjects was measured by station pull-through (SPT), by rapid pull-through (RPT), and with a microsleeve sensor for 30 min, followed by 15 min of esophageal acid infusion. Deglutitive UES relaxation recorded with a microsleeve and solid state sensor were compared.


RESULTS
The UES pressure recorded with the microsleeve (25+/-9 mm Hg) was significantly less than that by SPT (114+/-18 mm Hg) or RPT (152+/-19 mm Hg), and was unaffected by acid infusion. Periods of low UES pressure were observed during long interswallow intervals (11+/-4, range 6-18 mm Hg). Deglutitive relaxation duration and intrabolus pressure measured with the microsleeve were less than those recorded by the solid state transducer.


CONCLUSIONS
"Normal" UES pressure is heavily dependent on measurement technique; pressures obtained with a miniature sleeve are a fraction of those obtained by SPT or RPT. During periods of relative comfort with minimal swallowing, UES tone is approximately 10 mm Hg, similar to that during sleep. Volume modulation of deglutitive UES relaxation is demonstrable with a microsleeve, albeit with less precision than with a solid-state transducer.
Dire
C
C
Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611-3008, USA.
Shi
G
G
Manka
M
M
Kahrilas
P J
PJ
D000143:Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D003679:Deglutition; D004867:Equipment Design; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D010477:Perfusion; D011312:Pressure; D013997:Time Factors; D014159:Transducers
D000143:Acids