Measurement of peak esophageal luminal cross-sectional area utilizing nadir intraluminal impedance.
BACKGROUND
Multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) is currently used to monitor gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal bolus clearance. We describe a novel methodology to measure maximal luminal cross-sectional area (CSA) during bolus transport from MII measurements.


METHODS
Studies were conducted in-vitro (test tubes) and in-vivo (healthy subjects). Concurrent MII, high resolution manometry, and intraluminal ultrasound (US) images were recorded 7-cm above the lower esophageal sphincter. Swallows with two concentrations of saline, 0.1 and 0.5 N, of bolus volumes 5, 10, and 15 cc were performed. The CSA was estimated by solving two algebraic Ohm's law equations, resulting from the two saline solutions. The CSA calculated from impedance method was compared with the CSA measured from the intraluminal US images.


RESULTS
The CSA measured in duplicate from B-mode US images showed a mean difference between the two manual delineations to be near zero, and the repeatability coefficient was within 7.7% of the mean of the two CSA measurements. The calculated CSA from the impedance measurements strongly correlated with the US measured CSA (R(2) ≅ 0.98). A detailed statistical analysis of the impedance and US measured CSA data indicated that the 95% limits of agreement between the two methods ranged from -9.1 to 13 mm(2) . The root mean square error of the two measurements was 4.8% of the mean US-measured CSA.


CONCLUSIONS
We describe a novel methodology to measure peak esophageal luminal CSA from the nadir impedance during peristalsis. Further studies are needed to determine if it is possible to measure patterns of luminal distension during peristalsis across the entire length of the esophagus from the MII recordings.
Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, San Diego VA Health Care System & University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
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A
Zifan
Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, San Diego VA Health Care System & University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
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M
Ledgerwood-Lee
Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, San Diego VA Health Care System & University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
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RK
Mittal
D000328:Adult; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004947:Esophagus / Q000502:physiology*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000502:physiology*
esophageal cross-sectional area; esophageal distension; multichannel intraluminal impedance