[Primary esophageal motor disturbances among patients with esophageal symptoms]

The esophagus can suffer several motor disturbances of striated or smooth muscle.

To determine the presence of primary motor disturbances of the esophagus among a group of patients with esophageal symptoms.

Prospective study of 5,440 patients consulting for heartburn, chest pain or dysphagia, with primary esophageal motor disturbances, studied between 1994 and 2004. AH were subjected to an esophageal manometry with eight perfused catheters connected to pressure transducers.

Nineteen percent of subjects had a normal esophageal manometry, 60% had unspecific motor disturbances usually associated to gastroesophageal reflux, 13% had a nutcracker esophagus, 5% had diffuse esophageal spasm, 2% had achalasia and 0,3% had an hypertensive sphincter.

Primary esophageal motor disturbances are common among patients with esophageal symptoms. A manometry should be performed to these patients.