title: Esophageal motility in troublesome belching.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Supragastric belches are the main determinants of troublesome belching symptoms. In supragastric belches, air is rapidly brought into the esophagus and is immediately followed by a rapid expulsion before it has reached the stomach.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the esophageal contraction and transit after wet swallows in patients with troublesome belching.
  
  
  METHODS
  Esophageal contraction and transit were evaluated in 16 patients with troublesome belching and 15 controls. They were measured at 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm from the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) by a solid state manometric and impedance catheter. Each subject swallowed five 5 mL boluses of saline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amplitude, duration and area under the curve of contractions were similar in patients with troublesome belching and control subjects. The total esophageal bolus transit time was 6.2 (1.8) s in patients with troublesome belching and 6.1 (2.3) s in controls (P=0.55). The bolus presence time was longer in controls than in patients at 5 cm from the LES [controls: 6.0 (1.1) s, patients: 4.9 (1.2) s, P=0.04], without differences at 10, 15 and 20 cm from the LES. The bolus head advanced time was longer in patients than controls from 20 cm to 15 cm [controls: 0.1 (0.1) s, patients: 0.7(0.8)s, P=0.01] and from 15 cm to 10 cm [controls: 0.3 (0.1) s, patients: 1.6 (2.6) s, P=0.01] of the LES, without difference from 10 cm to 5 cm [controls: 0.7 (0.3) s, patients: 1.0 (1.1) s, P=0.37]. There was no difference in segment transit time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no difference in esophageal contractions between patients with troublesome belching and controls. The swallowed bolus went slower into the proximal and middle esophageal body in patients than in control, but cross the distal esophageal body faster in patients than in controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo-14049-900-Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Cristina Viana da
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Lilian Rose Otoboni
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Aprile
authors.forename: Roberto Oliveira
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Dantas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004884:Eructation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000502:physiology*