Evaluation of esophageal function in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease using transnasal endoscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the utility of a new method of carrying out esophageal manometry using a narrow gauge manometry catheter via a transnasal endoscope.


METHODS
The Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (FSSG), a GERD-specific questionnaire, was given to 45 subjects. Subjects underwent transnasal endoscopy with three dry and three wet (3 mL water) swallows. Direct observations of the primary peristaltic wave and peristaltic pressure measurement were conducted simultaneously.


RESULTS
Endoscopic observation of lower esophageal motility associated with swallowing revealed dilatation of the esophageal lumen after swallowing, followed by contraction in association with the primary peristaltic wave. The peristaltic pressure was significantly lower with increased FSSG scores for dry swallows (r = -0.347, P = 0.0212), but no significant correlation was seen for wet swallows.


CONCLUSIONS
The significant negative correlation between reflux symptoms and peristaltic pressure in dry swallows was thought to be that reduced pressure immediately rostral to the lower esophageal sphincter leads to decreased clearance following gastric acid reflux, playing a large part in the onset of symptoms.
Department of Gastroenterology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Yufu, Oita 879-5593, Japan. s.yasaka@med.oita-u.ac.jp
Shigeaki
S
Yasaka
Kazunari
K
Murakami
Takashi
T
Abe
Juro
J
Anan
Kazuhiro
K
Mizukami
Jin
J
Tanahashi
Tadayoshi
T
Okimoto
Masaaki
M
Kodama
Yoshikuni
Y
Kudo
Hisanori
H
Kawasaki
Toshio
T
Fujioka
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D003679:Deglutition; D020776:Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004947:Esophagus / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D010528:Peristalsis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011312:Pressure; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial