title: Lower oesophageal sphincter pressure and timed barium oesophagogram: two objective parameters in the non-invasive assessment of primary achalasia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The non-invasive assessment of primary achalasia is not precise.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare investigations before and 1 month after balloon dilation in achalasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two patients with primary achalasia were enrolled. Subjective and objective variables of oesophageal functions were analysed before and 1 month after balloon dilation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean predilation symptom score, lower oesophageal sphincter pressure, height and volume of barium at 5 min were 7.7 +/- 2.6, 62.0 +/- 25.1 mmHg, 9.2 +/- 6.1 cm and 53.2 +/- 49.8 mL respectively; the mean postdilation values were 3.0 +/- 3.0, 34.1 +/- 12.5 mmHg, 7.9 +/- 5.1 cm and 28.0 +/- 30.1 mL respectively. The before dilation volume of barium at 5 min correlates significantly with lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (P < 0.01). The mean symptom scores, lower oesophageal sphincter pressure and volume of barium at 5 min dropped significantly after intervention (P < 0.01), but the reduction in barium height at 5 min was not significant. The percentage changes in volume at 5 min significantly predicted the percentage changes in lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The volume of barium retention at 5 min can predict the lower oesophageal sphincter pressure before and after balloon dilation in primary achalasia. This could be used as a non-invasive objective tool for initial and post-dilation assessment.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Digestive Disease Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran. montazer@ams.ac.ir
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montazeri
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nouri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Estakhri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shirani
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Derakhshan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yaghoobi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mikaeli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malekzadeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D002404:Catheterization; D003287:Contrast Media; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D049630:Esophageal Sphincter, Lower / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011312:Pressure; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate