There is recent evidence showing that obesity is associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophageal dysmotility, although symptoms are not always present.
This is a prospective study based on high-resolution manometry findings in bariatric surgery candidates and their correlation with postoperative dysphagia.
Manometric evaluation was performed on candidates for bariatric surgery from 2022 to 2024. The examination was conducted according to the protocol of the fourth version of the Chicago Classification, including different positions and provocative maneuvers to confirm the diagnosis of dysmotility. Patients were followed for 90 days after surgery to verify the occurrence of dysphagia or difficulty adapting to the diet.
High-resolution manometry was performed on 46 candidates for bariatric surgery with a mean body mass index of 46.5 kg/m2. Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction was diagnosed in 16 (34.8%) patients, and ineffective esophageal motility was diagnosed in 8 (17.4%) patients. None of the subjects reported symptoms during the preoperative period. Out of the 46 individuals initially included, 44 underwent bariatric surgery, 23 (52.3%) underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and 21 (47.7%) underwent sleeve gastrectomy. One patient with esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction reported dysphagia after Roux-en-Y bypass, but symptoms spontaneously resolved during the 90-day follow-up period.
Although patients with severe obesity have a high prevalence of esophageal motility disorders, no clinical repercussions were observed after bariatric surgery during the study period.
The transient dysphagia after fundoplication is common and most often disappears until six weeks postoperatively.
Analyze a group of patients who presented late and persistent dysphagia postoperatively.
Forty-one patients after Nissen fundoplication, 14 male and 27 female, mean age 48 year, were evaluated based on medical history, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, contrast radiographic examination and esophageal manometry. The results were compared with another 19 asymptomatic individuals.
Contrast radiographic examination of the esophagus revealed in six cases delayed emptying, characterizing that four patients had achalasia and two diffuse spasm of the esophagus. Esophageal manometry showed that maximal expiratory pressure of the lower sphincter ranged from 10 to 38 mmHg and mean respiratory pressure from 14 to 47 mmHg, values similar to controls. Residual pressure ranged from 5 to 31 mmHg, and 17 patients had the same values as the control group.
The residual pressure of the lower sphincter was higher and statistically significant in patients with dysphagia compared with those operated without dysphagia. Future studies individualizing and categorizing each motility disorder, employing other techniques of manometry, and the analysis of the residual pressure may contribute to understand of persistent dysphagia in the postoperative fundoplication.
The upper esophageal sphincter is composed of striated muscle. The stress of intubation and the need to inhibit dry swallows during an esophageal manometry test may lead to variations in basal pressure of this sphincter. Upper esophageal sphincter is usually only studied at the final part of the test. Was observed during the performance of high resolution manometry that sphincter pressure may vary significantly over the course of the test.
To evaluate the variation of the resting pressure of the upper esophageal sphincter during high resolution manometry.
Was evaluated the variation of the basal pressure of the upper esophageal sphincter during high resolution manometry. Were reviewed the high resolution manometry tests of 36 healthy volunteers (mean age 31 years, 55% females). The basal pressure of the upper esophageal sphincter was measured at the beginning and at the end of a standard test.
The mean time of the test was eight minutes. The basal pressure of the upper esophageal sphincter was 100 mmHg at the beginning of the test and 70 mmHg at the end (p<0.001). At the beginning, one patient had hypotonic upper esophageal sphincter and 14 hypertonic. At the end of the test, one patient had hypotonic upper esophageal sphincter (same patient as the beginning) and seven hypertonic upper esophageal sphincter.
A significant variation of the basal pressure of the upper esophageal sphincter was observed in the course of high resolution manometry. Probably, the value obtained at the end of the test may be more clinically relevant.
Esophageal sphincter; upper; Manometry; Pressure
Laparoscopic total fundoplication is currently considered the gold standard for the surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Short-term outcomes after laparoscopic total fundoplication are excellent, with fast recovery and minimal perioperative morbidity. The symptom relief and reflux control are achieved in about 80 to 90% of patients 10 years after surgery. However, a small but clinically relevant incidence of postoperative dysphagia and gas-related symptoms is reported. Debate still exists about the best antireflux operation; during the last three decades, the surgical outcome of laparoscopic partial fundoplication (anterior or posterior) were compared to those achieved after a laparoscopic total fundoplication. The laparoscopic partial fundoplication, either anterior (180°) or posterior, should be performed only in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease secondary to scleroderma and impaired esophageal motility, since the laparoscopic total fundoplication would impair esophageal emptying and cause dysphagia.
Significant incidence, diagnostic difficulties, clinical relevance and therapeutic efficacy associated with the small number of publications on the primary esophageal motor disorders, motivated the present study.
To determine the manometric prevalence of these disorders and correlate them to the endoscopic and clinical findings.
A retrospective study of 2614 patients, being 1529 (58.49%) women and 1085 (41.51%) men. From 299 manometric examinations diagnosed with primary esophageal motor disorder, were sought-clinical data (heartburn, regurgitation, dysphagia, odynophagia, non-cardiac chest pain, pharyngeal globe and extra-esophageal symptoms) and/or endoscopic (hiatal hernia, erosive esophagitis, food waste) that motivated the performance of manometry.
Were found 49 cases of achalasia, 73 diffuse spasm, 89 nutcracker esophagus, 82 ineffective esophageal motility, and six lower esophageal sphincter hypertension. In relation to the correlations, it was observed that in 119 patients clinical conditions were associated with dysphagia, found in achalasia more than in other conditions; in relationship between endoscopic findings and clinical conditions there was no statistical significance between data.
The clinical and endoscopic findings have little value in the characterization of the primary motor disorders of the esophagus, showing even more the need for manometry, particularly in the preoperative period of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Sleeve gastrectomy may alter esophageal motility and lower esophageal sphincter pressure.
To detect manometric changings in the esophagus and lower esophageal sphincter before and after sleeve gastrectomy in order to select patients who could develop postoperative esophageal motilitity disorders and lower esophageal sphincter pressure modifications.
Seventy-three patients were selected. All were submitted to manometry before the operation and one year after. The variables analyzed were: resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter, contraction wave amplitude, duration of contraction waves, and esophageal peristalsis. Data were compared before and after surgery and to the healthy and non-obese control group. Exclusion criteria were: previous gastric surgery, reflux symptoms or endoscopic findings of reflux or hiatal hernia, diabetes and use of medications that could affect esophageal or lower esophageal sphincter motility.
49% of the patients presented preoperative manometric alterations: lower esophageal sphincter hypertonia in 47%, lower esophageal sphincter hypotonia in 22% and increase in contraction wave amplitude in 31%. One year after surgery, manometry was altered in 85% of patients: lower esophageal sphincter hypertonia in 11%, lower esophageal sphincter hypotonia in 52%, increase in contraction wave amplitude in 27% and 10% with alteration in esophageal peristalsis. Comparing the results between the preoperative and postoperative periods, was found statistical significance for the variables of the lower esophageal sphincter, amplitude of contraction waves and peristalsis.
Manometry in the preoperative period of sleeve gastrectomy is not an exam to select candidates to this technique.
High resolution manometry is the current technology used to the study of esophageal motility and is replacing conventional manometry in important centers for esophageal motility with parameters used on esophageal motility, following the Chicago Classification. This classification unifies high resolution manometry interpretation and classifies esophageal disorders.
This review shows, in a pictorial presentation, the new parameters established by the Chicago Classification, version 3.0, aimed to allow an easy comprehension and interpretation of high resolution manometry.
Esophageal manometries performed by the authors were reviewed to select illustrative tracings representing Chicago Classification parameters.
The parameters are: Esophagogastric Morphology, that classifies this junction according to its physiology and anatomy; Integrated Relaxation Pressure, that measures the lower esophageal sphincter relaxation; Distal Contractile Integral, that evaluates the contraction vigor of each wave; and, Distal Latency, that measures the peristalsis velocity from the beginning of the swallow to the epiphrenic ampulla.
Clinical applications of these new concepts is still under evaluation.
The diagnosis of achalasia may be suggested by clinical features but a complete work-up is required not only to confirm the diagnosis but also to grade the disease by severity or clinical subtype.
To review the current evaluation of esophageal achalasia and its correct comprehension.
The literature review was based on papers published on Medline/Pubmed, SciELO and Lilacs, crossing the following headings: “esophageal achalasia”; “deglutition disorders”; “diagnostic techniques”, “digestive system”; “endoscopy, digestive system”; “manometry”.
The diagnosis of achalasia is suggested by clinical features but is not sufficient to distinguish this from other esophageal disease. It must be confirmed by further diagnostic tests, such as esophagogastroduodenoscopy, barium swallow and manometry. Recent advances in diagnostic methods, including high resolution manometry might even help predicting outcome or selected more appropriate procedures to treat the disease.
A detailed and systematic study of achalasia patients allows not only a correct diagnosis but also contributes to therapeutic decision making and prognosis.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is usually associated with esophageal or typical symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, and dysphagia. However, there is today mounting evidence that gastroesophageal reflux can also cause extra-esophageal or atypical problems such as cough, aspiration pneumonia, and pulmonary fibrosis. AIM: The aim of this study was to discuss the pathophysiology of extra-esophageal symptoms, the diagnostic evaluation, complications, and the outcome of video laparoscopic antireflux surgery.
This study analyzes the recent literature review.
It is important to separate patients with respiratory symptoms into two different groups: group I: patients having typical symptoms such as heartburn and respiratory symptoms, and group II: patients having respiratory symptoms only, in whom reflux is otherwise silent.
Gastroesophageal reflux can cause respiratory symptoms in addition to esophageal typical symptoms. High index of suspicion should be present, and a complete workup was done to diagnose whether pathologic reflux is present and whether it extends to the proximal esophagus or pharynx. Antireflux surgery in these patients should be considered, as it is safe and effective.
Due to the lack of normal standards of anorectal manometry in Brazil, data used are subject to normality patterns described at different nationalities.
To determine the values and range of the parameters evaluated at anorectal manometry in people, at productive age, without pelvic floor disorders comparing the parameters obtained between male and female.
Prospective analysis of clinical data, such as gender, age, race, body mass index (BMI) and anorectal manometry, of volunteers from a Brazilian university reference in pelvic floor disorders.
Forty patients were included, with a mean age of 45.5 years in males and 37.2 females (p=0.43). According to male and female, respectively in mmHg, resting pressures were similar (78.28 vs. 63.51, p=0.40); squeeze pressures (153.89 vs. 79.78, p=0.007) and total squeeze pressures (231.27 vs. 145.63, p=0.002). Men presented significantly higher values of anorectal squeeze pressures, as well as the average length of the functional anal canal (2.85 cm in male vs. 2.45 cm in female, p=0.003).
Normal sphincter pressure levels in Brazilians differ from those used until now as normal literature standards. Male gender has higher external anal sphincter tonus as compared to female, in addition a greater extension of the functional anal canal
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