A multisensor approach to improve manometric analysis of the upper esophageal sphincter

High-resolution manometry (HRM) improves on previous manometric systems by including a greater number of sensors that are more densely placed. Due to deglutitive movement of the HRM catheter and upper esophageal sphincter (UES), it is unclear which HRM sensors capture pressure in the UES. To address this issue, we present two complementary studies to describe UES pressure patterns using HRM + videofluoroscopy and HRM + electromyography (EMG).

Case series involving a new analysis method.

Study 1: Simultaneous HRM + videofluoroscopy were performed in 11 healthy subjects swallowing five 10-mL thin-liquid boluses. HRM catheter and UES movement were tracked to identify UES pressure patterns over multiple HRM sensors. Study 2: Simultaneous HRM + cricopharyngeal EMGs were performed in six healthy subjects swallowing five 10-mL water boluses. HRM and EMG outputs were correlated over individual and multiple HRM sensors.

HRM sensors move prior to UES movement (P < .001) and to a lesser extent in rostral and ventral directions (P ≤ .01) than the UES. UES closure pressure is captured with two distinct patterns: 1) a rostral UES pattern with short durations and fast rate of pressure release, depicting UES descent along the catheter as it closes; and 2) a caudal UES pattern with tonic pressures at baseline and a deglutitive nadir. The HRM + EMG multisensor correlation (r = 0.88) was significantly stronger than the single-sensor correlation (r = 0.80; P = .02).

During deglutition, the HRM catheter and the UES rise above baseline positions and create a distinctive, multisensor manometric trace. Accurate deglutitive UES pressure evaluation must include multiple manometric sensors.

4 Laryngoscope, 126:657-664, 2016.