title: High-resolution manometry combined with impedance measurements discriminates the cause of dysphagia in children.
abstract: Pressure-flow analysis allows assessing esophageal bolus transport in relation to esophageal pressures. This study aimed to characterize pressure-flow metrics in relation to dysphagia in paediatric patients. We analysed esophageal pressure-impedance recordings of 5 ml liquid and viscous swallows from 35 children (17 M, mean 10.5 ± 0.8 years). Primary indication for referral was gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (9), post-fundoplication dysphagia (5), idiopathic dysphagia (16), trachea-esophageal fistula (2) and other (3). Peristaltic function was assessed using the 20 mmHg iso-contour defect and the timing between bolus pressure and flow was assessed using the Pressure Flow Index, a metric elevated in relation to dysphagia. Patients were stratified in relation to dysphagia and to peristaltic defect size. Dysphagia was characterized by a weaker peristalsis for liquids and higher Pressure Flow Index for viscous. When patients were stratified based on weak or normal peristalsis, dysphagia with weak peristalsis related to a larger iso-contour defect size and dysphagia with normal peristalsis related to higher Pressure Flow Index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pressure-flow analysis enables differentiation of patients with dysphagia due to weak peristalsis (poor bolus clearance) from abnormal bolus flow resistance (esophageal outflow obstruction). This new dichotomous categorization of esophageal function may help guide the selection of optimal treatment such as pharmacological or endoscopic therapy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  • Pressure-flow analysis (PFA) can detect abnormalities in esophageal motility using integrated analysis of bolus propulsion and bolus flow during swallowing. • AIM analysis has recently been reported to be useful in identifying subtle pre-operative esophageal dysfunction in adult patients who developed post-fundoplication dysphagia as well as in patients with non-obstructive dysphagia.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  • Pressure-flow parameters can distinguish the cause of dysphagia in paediatric patients. • Combined high-resolution manometry and impedance measurements with pressure-flow analysis can differentiate paediatric patients with dysphagia symptoms in relation to either weak peristalsis (poor bolus clearance) or over-pressurization (abnormal bolus flow resistance). HOW MIGHT IT IMPACT ON CLINICAL PRACTICE IN THE FUTURE? • This study supports the use of a novel objective analysis method on recordings that are readily used in paediatric clinical practice. • The pressure-flow approach allows discriminating esophageal dysfunction in relation to dysphagia symptoms in children. This has not been achieved in children with current analysis methods. • The new findings of this study allow a dichotomous categorization of esophageal function, which may help to guide the selection of the most optimal treatment such as pharmacological or endoscopic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences, ExpORL, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. nathalie.rommel@med.kuleuven.be.|Neurogastroenterology & Motility, Gastroenterology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. nathalie.rommel@med.kuleuven.be.|Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Diseases (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. nathalie.rommel@med.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rommel
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Diseases (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. taher.omari@flinders.edu.au.|School of Medicine, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia. taher.omari@flinders.edu.au.|The Robinson Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. taher.omari@flinders.edu.au.
authors.forename: Taher I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Omari
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences, ExpORL, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. margot.selleslagh@med.kuleuven.be.|Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Diseases (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. margot.selleslagh@med.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Margot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Selleslagh
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Diseases (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. stamatiki.kritas@med.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Stamatiki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kritas
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia. charles.Cock@health.sa.gov.au.|Investigation and Procedures Unit, Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, South Australia, Australia. charles.Cock@health.sa.gov.au.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cock
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. rachel.rosen@childrens.harvard.edu.|Centre for Motility and Functional GI Disorders, Boston Children's Hospital , Boston, MA, USA. rachel.rosen@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosan
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. leonel.Rodriguez@childrens.harvard.edu.|Centre for Motility and Functional GI Disorders, Boston Children's Hospital , Boston, MA, USA. leonel.Rodriguez@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Leonel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. sam.nurko@childrens.harvard.edu.|Centre for Motility and Functional GI Disorders, Boston Children's Hospital , Boston, MA, USA. sam.nurko@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nurko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dysphagia; Esophageal motility; High-resolution manometry; Impedance measurement