Management of Ineffective Esophageal Hypomotility

The Saudi Gastroenterology Association consensus on the clinical care pathway for the diagnosis and treatment of GERD

ABSTRACT

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common problems encountered in outpatient general medicine and gastroenterology clinics. GERD may present with classic esophageal symptoms, extraesophageal symptoms, or mixed symptoms. The diagnosis and treatment of GERD are challenging due to the variety of symptoms and multifactorial pathophysiology. Since there is no consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of GERD in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Gastroenterology Association established an expert group to formulate a consensus on the clinical care pathway for the diagnosis and treatment of GERD to update health-care providers in Saudi Arabia. The expert group reviewed the literature including recently published international guidelines, clinical trials, and expert opinion and conducted virtual and in-person meetings. A total of 22 statements on the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of GERD were formulated, and three algorithms for the clinical care of GERD were developed with a detailed description for each step. The expert group endorsed the new definition of GERD, the practical principles of interpretation of the diagnostic GERD evaluation, and the practical guidance for GERD treatment including medical, surgical, and endoscopic therapy. The expert group recommends further studies to investigate local data on the diagnosis and treatment of GERD.

A practical approach to ineffective esophageal motility

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) is the most frequently diagnosed esophageal motility abnormality and characterized by diminished esophageal peristaltic vigor and frequent weak, absent, and/or fragmented peristalsis on high-resolution esophageal manometry. Despite its commonplace occurrence, this condition can often provoke uncertainty for both patients and clinicians. Although the diagnostic criteria used to define this condition has generally become more stringent over time, it is unclear whether the updated criteria result in a more precise clinical diagnosis. While IEM is often implicated with symptoms of dysphagia and gastroesophageal reflux disease, the strength of these associations remains unclear. In this review, we share a practical approach to IEM highlighting its definition and evolution over time, commonly associated clinical symptoms, and important management and treatment considerations. We also share the significance of this condition in patients undergoing evaluation for anti-reflux surgery and consideration for lung transplantation.

Dysregulated brain-gut axis in the setting of traumatic brain injury: review of mechanisms and anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapies

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a chronic and debilitating disease, associated with a high risk of psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Despite significant advancements in improving outcomes, the lack of effective treatments underscore the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies. The brain-gut axis has emerged as a crucial bidirectional pathway connecting the brain and the gastrointestinal (GI) system through an intricate network of neuronal, hormonal, and immunological pathways. Four main pathways are primarily implicated in this crosstalk, including the systemic immune system, autonomic and enteric nervous systems, neuroendocrine system, and microbiome. TBI induces profound changes in the gut, initiating an unrestrained vicious cycle that exacerbates brain injury through the brain-gut axis. Alterations in the gut include mucosal damage associated with the malabsorption of nutrients/electrolytes, disintegration of the intestinal barrier, increased infiltration of systemic immune cells, dysmotility, dysbiosis, enteroendocrine cell (EEC) dysfunction and disruption in the enteric nervous system (ENS) and autonomic nervous system (ANS). Collectively, these changes further contribute to brain neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration via the gut-brain axis. In this review article, we elucidate the roles of various anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapies capable of attenuating the dysregulated inflammatory response along the brain-gut axis in TBI. These agents include hormones such as serotonin, ghrelin, and progesterone, ANS regulators such as beta-blockers, lipid-lowering drugs like statins, and intestinal flora modulators such as probiotics and antibiotics. They attenuate neuroinflammation by targeting distinct inflammatory pathways in both the brain and the gut post-TBI. These therapeutic agents exhibit promising potential in mitigating inflammation along the brain-gut axis and enhancing neurocognitive outcomes for TBI patients.

Are the Chicago 3.0 manometric diagnostics consistent with Chicago 4.0?

There is little information on the degree of concordance between the results obtained using the Chicago 3.0 (CCv3.0) and Chicago 4.0 (CCv4.0) protocols to interpret high-resolution manometry (HRM) seeking to determine the value provided by the new swallowing maneuvers included in the last protocol. This is a study of diagnostic tests, evaluating concordance by consistency between the results obtained by the CCv3.0 and CCv4.0 protocols, in patients undergoing HRM. Concordance was assessed with the kappa test. Bland-Altman scatter plots, and Lin's correlation-concordance coefficient (CCC) were used to assess the agreement between IRP measured with swallows in the supine and seated position or with solid swallows. One hundred thirty-two patients were included (65% women, age 53 ± 17 years). The most frequent HRM indication was dysphagia (46.1%). Type I was the most common type of gastroesophageal junction. The most frequent CCv4.0 diagnoses were normal esophageal motility (68.9%), achalasia (15.5%), and ineffective esophageal motility (IEM; 5.3%). The agreement between the results was substantial (Kappa 0.77 ± 0.05), with a total agreement of 87.9%. Diagnostic reclassification occurred in 12.1%, from IEM in CCv3.0 to normal esophageal motility in CCv4.0. Similarly, there was a high level of agreement between the IRP measured in the supine compared to the seated position (CCC0.92) and with solid swallows (CCC0.96). In conclusion, the CCv4.0 protocol presents a high concordance compared to CCv3.0. In the majority of manometric diagnoses there is no reclassification of patients with provocation tests. However, the more restrictive criteria of CCv4.0 achieve a better reclassification of patients with IEM.

Interpretation of Impedance Data on High-resolution Impedance Manometry Studies-A Worldwide Survey

Background/Aims

Esophageal manometry is the gold standard for esophageal motility evaluation. High-resolution esophageal manometry with impedance (HRIM) allows concurrent assessment of bolus transit and manometry. Inconsistencies between concomitant impedance and manometry data pose a clinical dilemma and has not yet been addressed. We aim to assess interpretation trends of HRIM data among gastroenterologists worldwide.

Methods

A cross-sectional study using an anonymous survey was conducted among gastroenterologists worldwide. Statistical analysis was performed to compare responses between providers.

Results

We received responses from 107 gastroenterologists (26 countries). Most were adult providers (69, 64.5%), and most (77, 72.0%) had > 5 years of experience. Impedance was found to be helpful by 83 (77.6%) participants, but over 30% reported inconsistencies between impedance and manometry data. With incomplete bolus clearance and normal manometry 41 (38.7%) recommended observation, 41 (38.7%) recommended 24-hours pH-impedance, and 16 (15.1%) recommended prokinetics. With abnormal manometry and complete bolus clearance, 60 (57.1%) recommended observation while 18 (17.1%) recommended 24-hours pH impedance and 15 (14.3%) recommended prokinetics. A significant difference was found between providers from different continents in treating cases with discrepancy between impedance and manometry findings (P < 0.001). No significant differences were seen in responses between adult versus pediatric providers and between providers with different years of experience.

Conclusions

There is no consensus on interpreting HRIM data. Providers' approaches to studies with inconsistencies between manometry and impedance data vary. There is an unmet need for guidelines on interpreting impedance data in HRIM studies.

Quality Indicator Development for the Approach to Ineffective Esophageal Motility: A Modified Delphi Study

GOALS

Develop quality indicators for ineffective esophageal motility (IEM).

BACKGROUND

IEM is identified in up to 20% of patients undergoing esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM) based on the Chicago Classification. The clinical significance of this pattern is not established and management remains challenging.

STUDY

Using RAND/University of California, Los Angeles Appropriateness Methods, we employed a modified-Delphi approach for quality indicator statement development. Quality indicators were proposed based on prior literature. Experts independently and blindly scored proposed quality statements on importance, scientific acceptability, usability, and feasibility in a 3-round iterative process.

RESULTS

All 10 of the invited esophageal experts in the management of esophageal diseases invited to participate rated 12 proposed quality indicator statements. In round 1, 7 quality indicators were rated with mixed agreement, on the majority of categories. Statements were modified based on panel suggestion, modified further following round 2's virtual discussion, and in round 3 voting identified 2 quality indicators with comprehensive agreement, 4 with partial agreement, and 1 without any agreement. The panel agreed on the concept of determining if IEM is clinically relevant to the patient's presentation and managing gastroesophageal reflux disease rather than the IEM pattern; they disagreed in all 4 domains on the use of promotility agents in IEM; and had mixed agreement on the value of a finding of IEM during anti-reflux surgical planning.

CONCLUSION

Using a robust methodology, 2 IEM quality indicators were identified. These quality indicators can track performance when physicians identify this manometric pattern on HRM. This study further highlights the challenges met with IEM and the need for additional research to better understand the clinical importance of this manometric pattern.

[Esophageal Motility Disorders - What's New?]

Esophageal motor disorders are an important cause of dysphagia but can also be associated with retrosternal pain and heartburn as well as regurgitation. In extreme cases, patients are not able to eat appropriately and lose weight. Repetitive aspiration can occur and may cause pulmonological complications. Achalasia represents the most important and best-defined esophageal motor disorder and is characterized by insufficient relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter in combination with typical disturbances of esophageal peristalsis. Additional defined motor disorders are distal esophageal spasm, hypercontractile esophagus, absent contractility and ineffective peristalsis. Patients with appropriate symptoms should primarily undergo esophagogastroduodenoscopy for exclusion of e.g., tumors and esophagitis. Esophageal high-resolution manometry is the reference method for diagnosis and characterization of motor disorders in non-obstructive dysphagia. An esophagogram with barium swallow may deliver complementary information or may be used if manometry is not available. Balloon dilatation and Heller myotomy are long established and more or less equally effective therapeutic options for patients with achalasia. Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) enhances the therapeutic armamentarium for achalasia and hypertensive/spastic motor disorders since 2010. For hypotensive motor disorders, which may occur as a complication of e.g., rheumatological diseases or idiopathically, therapeutic options are still limited.

Understanding and managing patients with overlapping disorders of gut-brain interaction

Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) are frequently encountered in clinical practice, and recommendations for diagnosis and management are well established. In a large subset of patients, more than one DGBI diagnosis is present. This group of patients with more than one DGBI diagnosis have higher symptom severity and impact than patients with only one DGBI diagnosis, and the management approach is not well established for those with overlapping diagnoses. This Review aims to guide clinicians to understand, recognise, and manage overlapping DGBI by identifying causes and pitfalls of overlap conditions, and presenting potential practical approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Several clinical factors can contribute to finding overlapping DGBI, including the anatomical basis of the Rome diagnostic criteria, the potential confusion of symptom descriptors, and patients' biases towards higher symptom intensity ratings. Overlapping DGBI could also be caused by mechanistic factors such as pathophysiological mechanisms involving multiple gastrointestinal segments, and the effect of disorders in one segment on sensorimotor function in remote gastrointestinal parts, through neural or hormonal signalling. Key initial steps in the management of overlapping DGBI are detailed history taking, which can be facilitated using pictograms; carefully assessing the relative timing and cohesion of different symptoms; and recognising associated psychosocial dysfunction. Unnecessary technical investigations and complex combination treatment schedules should be avoided. Based on the identification of the dominant symptom pattern and putative underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, a single treatment modality should preferably be initiated, considering the efficacy spectrum of different therapies. Follow-up of the patient's condition allows the therapeutic approach to be adjusted as needed, while avoiding unnecessary additional technical investigations.

Evaluation of Therapeutic Effect of Buspirone in Improving Dysphagia in Patients with GERD and Ineffective Esophageal Motility: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) is the most common esophageal motility disorder associated with low-to-moderate amplitude contractions in the distal esophagus in manometric evaluations. Despite recent new conceptions regarding the pathophysiology of esophageal motility and IEM, there are still no effective therapeutic interventions for the treatment of this disorder. This study aimed to investigate the effect of buspirone in the treatment of concomitant IEM and GERD. Methods and Materials: The present study was a randomized clinical trial conducted at the Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran. Patients with a history of gastroesophageal reflux disease and dysphagia underwent upper endoscopy to rule out any mechanical obstruction and were diagnosed with an ineffective esophageal motility disorder based on high-resolution manometry. They were given a package containing the desired medication(s); half of the packets contained 10 mg (for 30 days) of buspirone and 40 mg (for 30 days) of pantoprazole, and the other half contained only 40 mg (for 30 days) of pantoprazole. Dysphagia was scored based on the Mayo score, as well as a table of dysphagia severity. Manometric variables were recorded before and after the treatment. Results: Thirty patients (15 pantoprazole and 15 pantoprazole plus buspirone) were included. Females comprised 63.3% of the population, with a mean age of 46.33 ± 11.15. The MAYO score and resting LES pressure significantly changed after treatment. The MAYO and Swallowing Disorder Questionnaire scores significantly decreased after treatment in both groups of patients. Our results revealed that the post-intervention values of manometric variables differed significantly between the two groups after controlling for the baseline values of the variables. This analysis did not demonstrate the superiority of buspirone. Conclusion: Buspirone seems to have no superiority over PPI. Treatment with concomitant IEM and GERD using proton pump inhibitors improves the patient’s clinical condition and quality of life. However, adding buspirone to the treatment regimen did not appear to make a significant difference in patient treatment.

The Supportive Role of Provocative Maneuvers and Impedance Clearance in Detecting Ineffective Esophageal Motility

BACKGROUND

Ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) is one of the most common esophageal motility disorders. However, the definition of IEM has evolved. Chicago classification version 4.0 (CCv4.0) made IEM parameters more stringent with greater than 70% of ineffective wet swallows (WS) necessary to diagnose conclusive IEM. Of the ineffective swallows, 50-70% are deemed "inconclusive cases". This study sought to determine whether provocative maneuvers, including multiple rapid swallows (MRS) and apple viscous swallows (AVS), and impedance clearance can provide supportive information for inconclusive IEM disorders based on CCv4.0.

METHODS

Esophageal motility data on 100 patients were analyzed. All patients completed WS and at least one additional swallow test (MRS and/or AVS). Patients were classified as having conclusive IEM, inconclusive IEM, or normal motility. IEM features detected on MRS/AVS and incomplete bolus clearance were recorded. Percentage of agreement between IEM features and incomplete bolus clearance was calculated for each motility group.

RESULTS

Ten patients had conclusive IEM, nine had inconclusive IEM, and 32 had normal motility. There was 70% agreement between IEM features and incomplete bolus clearance with conclusive IEM, 33% agreement with inconclusive IEM, and 9% agreement with normal motility. There was significantly more agreement in the conclusive and inconclusive IEM groups than in the normal motility group (P = 0.0003).

CONCLUSIONS

Combinational follow-up testing with provocative maneuvers and impedance clearance may assist with risk stratification of IEM patients and assist in further management of inconclusive IEM. MRS and AVS can detect unique IEM features that may help with preoperative management of inconclusive IEM.

Unique Case of a Refractory Esophageal Peptic Stricture in an Uncontrolled Diabetic

Esophageal strictures can lead to the narrowing of the esophagus and dysphagia. They are termed peptic strictures when caused by acid reflux and usually measure less than two centimeters in the lower esophagus. Peptic strictures can be treated with proton pump inhibitors, endoscopic dilation, and esophagectomy. We present a unique case of a young diabetic who developed progressive dysphagia and was found to have a 5-centimeter esophageal peptic stricture refractory to treatment. His symptoms were secondary to gastroparesis and acid reflux from uncontrolled diabetes. Since diabetics are more likely to develop such complications, an important part of the management of peptic strictures should be focused on diabetes control.

Post-per-oral endoscopic myotomy heartburn: It's not always reflux: Expert review

Patients with achalasia frequently develop gastroesophageal reflux (GER)-related symptoms and complications after per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). Reflux symptoms are thought to be due to GER and the current treatment of post-POEM GER focuses on acid suppression with proton pump inhibitors (PPI). However, reflux symptoms in achalasia patients post-POEM can be due to true reflux, nonreflux esophageal acidification due to stasis or acid fermentation, or esophageal hypersensitivity to chemical or mechanical stimuli. True acidic reflux is not always the cause of reflux symptoms. Twenty-four-hour pH monitoring with impedance is essential to differentiate causes of esophageal acidification. PPI is useful only in true acidic reflux. Detection of acid fermentation requires manual review of a 24-h pH study, as automated review often overestimates acid exposure time due to its inability to differentiate true reflux from fermentation. Stasis of ingested acidic food warrants evaluation of esophageal emptying by timed barium esophagogram. In cases of inadequate emptying, esophagogastric junction (EGJ) distensibility can be evaluated by a functional lumen imaging probe. Impaired distensibility with inadequate esophageal emptying suggests treatment failure and may require retreatment. In treatment-refractory patients, esophageal hypersensitivity should be considered and treated with neuromodulators. Thus, the diagnostic approach to post-POEM reflux symptoms should evolve to identify various patterns of esophageal acidification, esophageal emptying patterns, EGJ distensibility, and hypersensitivity. Consequently, the treatment of GER post-POEM should not be limited to treating esophageal acidification by reflux, but should encompass other causes of acidification and esophageal hypersensitivity.

Multiple Esophageal Leiomyoma Presenting with Clinical Dysphagia from Mechanical Obstruction and Motility Disorder

Esophageal leiomyoma is uncommon. However, this tumor is the most common subepithelial tumor affecting the esophagus, comprising approximately two-thirds of benign esophageal tumors. Leiomyomas of the esophagus rarely cause symptoms when they are single and <5 cm. The mainstay of treatment is esophagectomy for symptomatic patients. A 68-year-old male patient presented with progressive dysphagia for 4 months. The degree of dysphagia and chest discomfort was more severe on solid rather than liquid diet. The CT scan of the chest showed multiple well-defined, submucosal nodules, up to 1.9 cm in diameter located at the middle esophagus. The barium swallow study illustrated multiple, well-defined, smooth, semilunar filling defects along the mid to distal esophagus. Meanwhile, esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed 8 smooth subepithelial masses. Moreover, the radial EUS showed multiple hypoechoic masses arising from the 4th layer, with some of the tumors connected to others as a horseshoe-like shape causing narrowed lumen. Last, high-resolution esophageal manometry revealed ineffective esophageal motility. We report a rare case of numerous esophageal leiomyomas which caused dysphagia as a result of both mechanical obstruction and hypomotility disorder. The histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of esophageal leiomyoma. Symptoms improved significantly after lifestyle modifications and adherence to dietary advice on the part of the patient.