[Esophageal manometry in patients with achalasia]

Fifty-eight patients with achalasia were evaluated by esophageal manometry. In the body of the esophagus, the resting pressure was elevated and the motor waves were typically of low amplitude and presented simultaneously. The LES was of normal or high tone with absent or reduced relaxation in response to deglutition. The authors noticed that the contraction pressure in the pharynx and the resting and closing pressures in the UES were markedly elevated. These features were not documented in the literature. Twenty-two patients were followed up by manometry 4 to 60 months after a Heller's myotomy. The resting pressures in the body of the esophagus and the LES were obviously reduced. We considered that esophageal manometry is an important method in the diagnosis of achalasia.