Effects of three different swallow maneuvers analyzed by videomanometry.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the manometric effects of three different swallow maneuvers on healthy volunteers.


METHODS
Ten healthy volunteers with no history of swallowing complaints were evaluated with simultaneous videoradiography and pharyngeal manometry (videomanometry). Three different swallow maneuvers were evaluated (supraglottic swallow, super-supraglottic swallow, and Mendelsohn's maneuver) and seven manometric and two videoradiographic variables were analyzed.


RESULTS
The supraglottic swallow showed a significantly weaker peak contraction of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES). The super-supraglottic swallow had a significantly higher UES relaxation pressure and the Mendelsohn maneuver a significantly higher UES peak contraction. With the Mendelsohn maneuver, there was also a significantly longer duration of the pharyngeal contraction and a significantly weaker UES peak contraction. Both the super-supraglottic and the Mendelsohn maneuver had a significantly longer bolus transit time.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study did not show any significant difference in the relaxation duration of any of the swallowing maneuvers compared to a control swallow. With the Mendelsohn maneuver, we found that both the pharyngeal peak contraction and contraction duration were increased, which might result in an improved propulsion of bolus into the esophagus.
Bodén
K
K
Department of Radiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna/Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. katarina.boden@karolinska.se
Hallgren
A
A
Witt Hedström
H
H
D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000502:physiology*; D014741:Video Recording
D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol