Primary Esophageal Motility Disorders: Beyond Achalasia

Associations Between Patterns of Esophageal Dysmotility and Extra-Intestinal Features in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis

OBJECTIVE

The gastrointestinal tract is commonly involved in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with varied manifestations. As our understanding of SSc gastrointestinal disease pathogenesis and risk stratification is limited, we sought to investigate whether patterns of esophageal dysfunction associate with specific clinical phenotypes in SSc.

METHODS

Patients enrolled in the Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center Research Registry who completed high-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) studies as part of their clinical care between 2011 and 2020 were identified. Associations between esophageal abnormalities on HREM (absent contractility [AC], ineffective esophageal motility [IEM], hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter [hypoLES]) and patient demographic information, clinical characteristics, and autoantibody profiles were examined.

RESULTS

Ninety-five patients with SSc had HREM data. Sixty-five patients (68.4%) had AC (37 patients with only AC, 28 patients with AC and a hypoLES), 9 patients (9.5%) had IEM, and 11 patients (11.6%) had normal studies. AC was significantly associated with diffuse cutaneous disease (38.5% versus 10.0%; P < 0.01), more severe Raynaud's phenomenon, including digital pits, ulcers, or gangrene (56.9% versus 30.0%; P = 0.02), and reduced median diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (50.6% versus 72.2%; P = 0.03). AC was observed in most of the patients who died (13 of 14; P = 0.06). These findings were not seen in patients with IEM.

CONCLUSION

Among patients with SSc, AC is associated with a significantly more severe clinical phenotype. IEM may associate with a milder phenotype. Further studies are needed to evaluate AC, IEM, and their clinical impact relative to the timing of other end-organ complications in SSc.

Esophageal wound healing by aligned smooth muscle cell-laden nanofibrous patch

The esophagus exhibits peristalsis via contraction of circularly and longitudinally aligned smooth muscles, and esophageal replacement is required if there is a critical-sized wound. In this study, we proposed to reconstruct esophageal tissues using cell electrospinning (CE), an advanced technique for encapsulating living cells into fibers that allows control of the direction of fiber deposition. After treatment with transforming growth factor-β, mesenchymal stem cell-derived smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were utilized for cell electrospinning or three-dimensional bioprinting to compare the effects of aligned micropatterns on cell morphology. CE resulted in SMCs with uniaxially arranged and elongated cell morphology with upregulated expression levels of SMC-specific markers, including connexin 43, smooth muscle protein 22 alpha (SM22α), desmin, and smoothelin. When SMC-laden nanofibrous patches were transplanted into a rat esophageal defect model, the SMC patch promoted regeneration of esophageal wounds with an increased number of newly formed blood vessels and enhanced the SMC-specific markers of SM22α and vimentin. Taken together, CE with its advantages, such as guidance of highly elongated, aligned cell morphology and accelerated SMC differentiation, can be an efficient strategy to reconstruct smooth muscle tissues and treat esophageal perforation.

Underlying etiology associated with the diagnosis of absent contractility on high resolution esophageal manometry

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Absent contractility is considered a disorder of peristalsis. The literature about the etiology and clinical characteristics is scarce and the evidence on systemic diseases associated with this esophageal disorder is limited. Therefore, we aimed to determine the etiology of absent contractility in our population using the clinical algorithm recently described in the literature.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study at a single tertiary hospital of all patients diagnosed of absent contractility between May 2018 and February 2020. Data on demographic characteristics, medication, comorbidities, and laboratory and paraclinical tests were recorded from clinical records.

RESULTS

A total of 72 patients with absent contractility were included for analysis. There was a predominance of female sex (n=43, 59.7%), with a mean age of 55.4 (±15.0) years. We identified a systemic disorder associated with absent contractility in 64 (88.9%) patients. From these, 31 (43.1%) patients were diagnosed with a systemic autoimmune disease, 26 (36.1%) patients were considered to have absent contractility secondary to pathological exposure to acid-reflux and 15 (20.8%) patients were diagnosed with other non-autoimmune systemic disorders. In the remaining eight (11.1%) patients, there were no underlying systemic disorders that could justify the diagnosis of absent contractility.

CONCLUSIONS

A systematic approach to search for an underlying cause in patients diagnosed with absent contractility is warranted. Up to 90% of patients with absent contractility have a systemic disorder associated with this condition.

Esophageal Dysfunction in Post-lung Transplant: An Enigma

The prevalence of lung transplants has increased over the years, albeit with a low survival rate amongst all solid organ transplants, including liver and heart transplantation. Microaspiration is one of the primary mechanisms that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of lung injury following lung transplants. Of late, esophageal dysfunction such as gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal hypercontractility is often noted post-lung transplant. However, reflux is associated with chronic allograft lung injury such as bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, which is one of the predictors for long-term survival in this specialized population. Its role in acute lung injury post-lung transplant is still being explored. This review critically examines the salient points which provide the current understanding of the characteristics, pathophysiology, and implications of esophageal dysfunction following lung transplant.

Prevalence of Different Types of Primary Esophageal Motility Disorders and Their Associated Factors in Patients Referring to Shariati Hospital during 2018-2019

BACKGROUND: Esophageal motility disorders (EMDs) are common in patients with dysphagia and are effectively diagnosed with high-resolution manometry (HREM). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of different types of primary EMDs in patients referred for HREM and to further investigate the factors associated with EMDs. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, all patients referred to the endoscopy section of Shariati Hospital during 2018-2019 (279 patients) were subjected to HREM and were evaluated according to their diagnosis, and the effect of each factor and each symptom on motility disorders was investigated. RESULTS: 84.5% (235) of the participants were diagnosed with at least one esophageal motility disorder; of them, achalasia was the most common form (52.6%). None of the predictive factors showed a statistically significant correlation with EMDs. However, regarding the symptoms, regurgitation and nocturnal cough were significantly more common in patients with EMD (P=0.001 and 0.009, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the high prevalence of EMDs in patients undergoing manometry. None of the factors studied, such as age, sex, diabetes, hypothyroidism, smoking, and alcohol and opium consumption, had a statistically significant correlation with EMDs.

Can FLIP guide therapy in idiopathic esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction?

BACKGROUND

Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) has a variable disease course. Currently, barium swallow (BaS) and manometric parameters are used to characterize clinically significant EGJOO. The esophagogastric junction distensibility index (EGJ-DI) measured via functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) can provide complementary information. Our aim was to assess symptom response in patients with EGJOO and an abnormal EGJ-DI after botulinum toxin (BT) treatment.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study of adults with idiopathic EGJOO was performed from September 2019 to March 2021. Patients with dysphagia underwent upper endoscopy with FLIP. If the EGJ-DI was abnormally low, BT was injected. Data examined included demographics, medical history, endoscopic and FLIP findings, BaS, manometry, and Eckardt score (ES). ES improvement was assessed via paired samples t-test. Pearson's chi-square tests were used to assess for associations.

RESULTS

Of the 20 patients, 75% had an abnormal EGJ-DI and underwent BT injections. Mean ES for patients with abnormal EGJ-DIs significantly improved from baseline to 1, 3, and 6 month follow-up (P-values: 0.01, 0.05, and 0.02, respectively). There was a significant association between an abnormal EGJ-DI with delayed bolus transit and presence of rapid drink challenge panesophageal pressurization on manometry: P = 0.03 and P = 0.03.

CONCLUSION

This prospective study revealed that an abnormal EGJ-DI can guide BT as assessed via symptomatic response. Additionally, abnormal EGJ-DI measurements were significantly associated with other parameters used previously to determine clinically relevant EGJOO. Larger follow-up studies are warranted to further elucidate guidance for therapy in EGJOO.

Evaluating the impact of an enhanced triage process on the performance and diagnostic yield of oesophageal physiology studies post COVID-19

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted on the provision of oesophageal physiology investigations. During the recovery phase, triaging tools were empirically recommended by national bodies for prioritisation of referrals amidst rising waiting lists and reduced capacity. We evaluated the performance of an enhanced triage process (ETP) consisting of telephone triage combined with the hierarchical 'traffic light system' recommended in the UK for prioritising oesophageal physiology referrals.

DESIGN

In a cross-sectional study of patients referred for oesophageal physiology studies at a tertiary centre, data were compared between patients who underwent oesophageal physiology studies 6 months prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and those who were investigated within 6 months after service resumption with implementation of the ETP.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Adjusted time from referral to investigation; non-attendance rates; the detection of Chicago Classification (CC) oesophageal motility disorders on oesophageal manometry and severity of acid reflux on 24 hours pH/impedance monitoring.

RESULTS

Following service resumption, the ETP reduced non-attendance rates from 9.1% to 2.8% (p=0.021). Use of the 'traffic light system' identified a higher proportion of patients with CC oesophageal motility disorders in the 'amber' and 'red' triage categories, compared with the 'green' category (p=0.011). ETP also reduced the time to test for those who were subsequently found to have a major CC oesophageal motility diagnosis compared with those with minor CC disorders and normal motility (p=0.004). The ETP did not affect the yield or timing of acid reflux studies.

CONCLUSION

ETPs can effectively prioritise patients with oesophageal motility disorders and may therefore have a role beyond the current pandemic.

Dysphagia: clinical evaluation and management

Dysphagia is a common problem affecting all ages. It is increasing in frequency particularly among the younger population due to the rising incidence of eosinophilic oesophagitis, a condition which often leads to acute presentation to hospital for the first time with food bolus obstruction requiring endoscopic removal. Careful history taking remains the first and most important step in evaluating dysphagia, and it is especially important to distinguish an oropharyngeal versus oesophageal origin, which helps to guide further investigation and therapy. The three main investigations for dysphagia remain endoscopy, barium study and manometry, with endoscopy also offering therapeutic potential. Management is largely determined by the eventual diagnosis, often in a multi-disciplinary setting.

The level of impaired esophageal bolus transit measured by multichannel intraluminal impedance: Cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Esophageal motility disorders (EMDs) are often diagnosed manometrically, yet the underlying pathology is not always clear. Esophageal function testing (EFT), which incorporates manometry and multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII), is considered a useful tool in the assessment of EMDs.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the most likely level of impaired bolus transit within the esophagus which may help further localize and characterize EMDs.

METHODS

In a retrospective study design, we reviewed consecutive EFTs over a period of 12 months. Data included diagnosis, presenting symptoms, and EFT results of liquid and viscous swallows. Each patient underwent 10 liquid and 10 viscous swallows, and bolus transit is measured at 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm above the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). We recorded the initial level of impaired bolus transit for each swallow.

RESULTS

A total of 2358 swallows in 118 patients was included for analysis. Of these, 837 swallows (35.5%) were incompletely transmitted. The proportions of impaired bolus transit were 39%, 41%, 15.6%, 4.4% at 20 cm, 15 cm, 10 cm, and 5 cm above the GEJ, respectively. The common symptoms at presentation were dysphagia (47%), heartburn (44%), chest pain (24.6%) and regurgitation (18%). The mean lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure was 24 ± 13.9 mmHg whereas the mean contraction amplitude was 84 ± 46.6 mmHg.

CONCLUSION

In patients with abnormal esophageal clearance, the most likely levels of impaired bolus transit are 15 and 20 cm above the GEJ. These levels of the esophagus should be a focus of attention in future studies evaluating the pathophysiology of esophageal dysmotility.

The Modern Age of POEM: the Past, Present and Future of Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy

BACKGROUND

Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has gained widespread enthusiasm amongst foregut specialists since its introduction in the mid 2000s as an effective and less invasive treatment option for achalasia. As more than 6000 POEM procedures have been performed to date throughout the world, we aim to summarize the history and current state of POEM in the treatment of esophageal motility disorders.

METHODS

We performed a comprehensive review of the published literature focusing on the history and development of the POEM procedure, and its most current applications and outcomes.

RESULTS

Multiple favorable long-term studies have been published advocating for the use of POEM as a valid and perhaps the most valid treatment option for achalasia. The procedure is also increasingly being applied to a wider spectrum of esophageal motility disorders including type III achalasia, spastic esophageal disease or isolated lower esophageal sphincter (LES) dysfunction, as well as new endoluminal procedures such as submucosal tumor endoscopic resection (STER), endoscopic fundoplications (POEM-F) and peroral pyloromyotomy (POP or G-POEM).

CONCLUSIONS

While POEM is a proved and valid procedure, its further adoption is being threatened by external factors: challenges related to teaching, institutional support (politics) and insurance reimbursement. While this technique has come an incredible distance in its relatively short lifespan, the future of POEM in the USA will depend on the support from surgical societies to validate it as a valuable tool in the esophageal specialist's armamentarium, and to encourage a commitment to training in endoluminal surgery.

Assessment of esophageal motility disorders by real-time MRI

PURPOSE

To investigate imaging findings of esophageal motility disorders on dynamic real-time.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

102 patients with GERD-like symptoms were included in this retrospective study between 2015-2018. Dynamic real-time MRI visualized the transit of a 10 mL pineapple juice bolus through the esophagus and EGJ with a temporal resolution of 40 ms. Dynamic and anatomic parameters were measured by consensus reading. Imaging findings were compared to HRM utilizing the Chicago classification of esophageal motility disorders, v3.0.

RESULTS

All 102 patients completed real-time MRI in a median examination time of 15 min. On HRM, 14 patients presented with disorders with EGJ outlet obstruction (EGJOO) (13.7 %), 7 patients with major disorders of peristalsis (6.9 %), and 32 patients with minor disorders of peristalsis (31.4 %). HRM was normal in 49 patients (48.0 %). Incomplete bolus clearance was significantly more frequent in patients with esophageal motility disorders on HRM than in patients with normal HRM (p = 0.0002). In patients with motility disorders with EGJOO and major disorders of peristalsis, the esophageal diameter tended to be wider (23.6 ± 8.0 vs. 21.2 ± 3.5 mm, p = 0.089) and the sphincter length longer (19.7 ± 7.3 vs. 16.7 ± 3.0 mm, p = 0.091) compared to patients with normal HRM. 3/7 patients with achalasia type II were correctly identified by real-time MRI and one further achalasia type II patient was diagnosed with a motility disorder on MRI films. The other 3/7 patients presented no specific imaging features.

CONCLUSION

Real-time MRI is an auxiliary diagnostic tool for the assessment of swallowing events. Imaging parameters may assist in the detection of esophageal motility disorders.

Characterizing the proximal esophageal segment in patients with symptoms of esophageal dysmotility

BACKGROUND

Proximal esophageal striated muscle contractility may be abnormal in patients with esophageal symptoms, but is not assessed in the Chicago Classification (CC) v3.0. We aimed to (a) determine the prevalence of abnormal proximal esophageal contractility in patients with esophageal symptoms; (b) compare proximal esophageal contractility in patients with different esophageal motility disorders; (c) assess the association of abnormal proximal esophageal contractility with esophageal symptoms.

METHODS

Patients undergoing high-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) from 7/2019 to 11/2019 and healthy volunteers (HVs) were studied. Measurements of the proximal esophageal segment included the vigor of contractility of the proximal esophagus (proximal contractile integral/PCI). Patients rated gastrointestinal symptoms' severity.

KEY RESULTS

HREM was performed on 221 patients (63.8% females, mean age 57.1 ± 1.1 years) and 19 HVs. Mean PCI in HVs was 299.5 ± 30.6 (95% CI 32.3-566.7 mm Hg^. s^. cm). Of all patients, 61 (27.6%) had abnormal PCI. HVs and patients with different esophageal motility disorders had significantly different PCI (P < .01). Type 1 achalasia patients had weaker PCI than patients with absent contractility (P = .02). Patients with abnormal PCI had more severe dysphagia (P = .02), nausea (P = .03), vomiting (P = .03), and lower bolus clearance (P < .01) than patients with normal PCI.

CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES

Abnormal PCI was found in a fourth of patients with esophageal symptoms. PCI may be useful to distinguish some esophageal motility disorders. Patients with abnormal PCI had a higher severity of some upper gastrointestinal symptoms than patients with normal PCI. Assessing the proximal esophageal segment on HREM may be useful in characterizing patients with esophageal symptoms.

Is Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy a Potential Therapy for Esophageal Absent Contractility?

AIM

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is recommended for the endoscopic treatment of achalasia and esophageal junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO); however, absent contractility, a subtype of peristalsis disorders classified by the Chicago Classification of esophageal motility v3.0, has no effective treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of POEM in absent contractility, in the part of the patients presents with dysphagia.

METHODS

We conducted a single-center retrospective study at a tertiary referral center. We included 30 patients who mainly complain with dysphagia, and they underwent POEM from January 2013 to December 2018. The data of high-resolution esophageal manometry was collected before and after POEM. They were divided into 3 groups: EGJOO, Achalasia, and Absent contractility according to the Chicago Classification of esophageal motility v3.0 before POEM. Telephone follow-up was made in February 2019 to obtain Eckardt scores and weight changes.

RESULTS

We found that both Eckardt scores and integrated relaxation pressure decreased post-POEM in the 3 groups (P<0.05). Eckardt score was significantly lower in the EGJOO group than in the Absent contractility group (P=0.004) post-POEM. The difference of Eckardt Score was higher in the EGJOO group (P=0.010) and the Achalasia group (P=0.007) than in the Absent contractility group, as was weight gain (P=0.023; P=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that POEM is an effective endoscopic procedure for patients with EGJOO and achalasia. Furthermore, POEM can significantly improve symptoms in patients with absent contractility, although less so than for the other 2 groups. POEM is a potential therapy for absent contractility patients presenting with dysphagia.

Diagnosis and Management of Esophagogastric Junction Outflow Obstruction

Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) is an abnormal topographic pattern seen on high-resolution manometry. EGJOO is characterized by an elevated median integrated relaxation pressure with intact or weak peristalsis, thus not meeting the criteria for achalasia. This diagnosis has a female predominance and is associated with varying presenting symptoms. EGJOO can be idiopathic or secondary. It is important to assess for secondary causes, including structural or medication-related ones. Cross-sectional imaging is recommended to rule out secondary causes; however, increasing evidence suggests that esophagogastroduodenoscopy and barium esophagram are usually sufficient. The disease course is variable, with up to three-quarters of patients experiencing spontaneous resolution of symptoms over 6 months. In patients who have mild symptoms, it is reasonable to observe and consider treatment if symptoms persist. Variable response has been seen in small studies with both medical treatment and botulinum toxin injection of the lower esophageal sphincter. For patients with significant symptoms and objective evidence of obstruction on imaging, targeted therapy of the lower esophageal sphincter should be considered via pneumatic dilation or myotomy.

Revisiting the Reliability of the Endoscopy and Sedation-Assisted High-Resolution Esophageal Motility Assessment

Background

Esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM) is performed for evaluation of dysphagia or the pre-operative evaluation before esophageal surgery. The esophageal manometry parameters, interpreted as per the Chicago classification (CC), are meant to be acquired in an awake state. At times, the patient intolerance or inability to traverse the manometry catheter across the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) renders incomplete esophageal motility evaluation; hence, sedation or endoscopy assistance is required. There have been concerns raised regarding the use of sedation and resultant alteration of the manometry parameters. The aims were to study the effects of intravenous sedation on esophageal motility parameters and analyze its impact on outcomes of patients with dysphagia who are intolerant to awake manometry procedure.

Methods

The study population comprised patients who had sedation or the endoscopy assistance for the HRM. The indication for HRM, necessity for the sedation, manometry findings, barium esophagogram results, procedural timings and patient outcomes were reviewed. The diagnostic impact of the 10% correction in integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) was also studied.

Results

There were 14 patients from 179 awake manometry procedures that required the sedation or the endoscopy assistance. The mean age was 60.7 years and there was equal gender distribution. Dysphagia (n = 9) remained the predominant indication for the HRM, followed by the pre-operative evaluation for the esophageal surgery (n = 5). In eight patients, awake manometry failed due to the coiling of the catheter above the EGJ and six patients were intolerant to awake catheter insertion technique. Six patients were diagnosed with achalasia and two with EGJ obstruction. The correction of the possible 10% inflation of the IRP did not alter the final diagnosis in majority except one patient with the EGJ obstruction. The findings of the barium esophagogram corroborated the manometry diagnosis.

Conclusion

Esophageal HRM should be done in awake state as much as possible. Sedation may be a feasible option as against aborting the further workup in patients who fail with current techniques involving awake catheter insertion. However, one needs to be mindful of sedation effects on manometry parameters and interpret results carefully.

Jackhammer Esophagus: From Manometric Diagnosis to Clinical Presentation

BACKGROUND

Jackhammer esophagus is a hypercontractile esophageal disorder recently brought to light with the advent of high resolution manometry (HRM). As little is known about its clinical presentation, the aim of this study was to identify the clinical characteristics associated with this new gastrointestinal motility disorder.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on patients visiting the CHUM's Gastro-Intestinal Motility Center from January 2015 to December 2017. The HRM diagnoses were collated in a database along with age and sex of every individual. The latest Chicago classification (version 3.0) was used. Among all the patients subjected to HRM, those diagnosed with Jackhammer esophagus were included in the study. Patient charts were reviewed to collect relevant demographic and clinical data.

KEY RESULTS

A total of 36 patients with Jackhammer esophagus were included (62 ± 13 years age, 89% females). Their main symptoms were dysphagia (72%), pyrosis (42%), retrosternal chest pain (36%), and epigastralgia (33%). Other manometric findings were hypertonia (22%) and/or inadequate relaxation (19%) of the lower esophageal sphincter. Among the 26 patients who had esogastroduodenoscopy, hiatal hernia was seen in 3 patients. Pathological gastroesophageal reflux was found in 4 of the 10 patients investigated by pH-monitoring.

CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES

Jackhammer esophagus represents 3% of the HRM diagnoses in this study, with a significant female preponderance. In more than two-thirds of cases, the clinical presentation of Jackhammer esophagus is dysphagia.

A Procedure for the Automatic Analysis of High-Resolution Manometry Data to Support the Clinical Diagnosis of Esophageal Motility Disorders

OBJECTIVE

Degenerative phenomena may affect esophageal motility as a relevant social-health problem. The diagnosis of such disorders is usually performed by the analysis of data from high-resolution manometry (HRM). Inter- and intraobserver variability frequently affects the diagnosis, with potential interpretative and thus therapeutic errors, with unnecessary or worse treatments. This may be avoided with automatic procedures that minimize human intervention in data processing.

METHODS

In order to support the traditional diagnostic process, an automatic procedure was defined considering a specific physiomechanical model that is able to objectively interpret data from HRM. A training set (N = 226) of healthy volunteers and pathological subjects was collected in order to define the model parameters distributions of the different groups of subjects, providing a preliminary database. A statistical algorithm was defined for an objective identification of the patient's healthy or pathological condition by comparing patient parameters with the database.

RESULTS

A collection of HRMs including subjects of the training set has been built. Statistical relationships between parameters and pathologies have been established leading to a preliminary database. An automatic diagnosis procedure has been developed to compare model parameters of a specific patient with the database. The procedure was able to match the correct diagnosis up to 86% of the analyzed subjects.

CONCLUSION

The success rate of the automatic procedure addresses the suitability of the developed algorithms to provide a valid support to the clinicians for the diagnostic activity.

SIGNIFICANCE

The objectivity of developed tools increases the reliability of data interpretation and, consequently, patient acceptance.