Natural History of Symptoms in Patients With Esophagogastric Junction Outflow Obstruction Using Standardized Surveys

Background Our aim was to assess the clinical presentation and outcomes of patients with a manometric diagnosis of esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) using standardized symptom surveys and comparison to a cohort who were referred for manometry but who had a normal study. Methods We followed a cohort of adult patients without a mechanical obstruction who underwent high-resolution manometry at our medical center from 9/12/19 to 10/4/21 for 16 months. Results Thirty-seven patients with EGJOO (age: 60.8 ± 13.3; female: 25/37) were compared to 33 patients with normal manometry (age: 57.6 ± 13.7; female: 21/33). For the untreated normal manometry group, there was a decrease in dysphagia scores at the six-month follow-up (10.8 ± 10.5 vs. 6.4 ± 10.4, P = 0.009) and a decrease in reflux scores at the 16-month follow-up (11.2 ± 3.0 vs. 7.8 ± 2.8, P = 0.042). For the untreated EGJOO group, there were no statistically significant changes in symptom scores. For both cohorts, dysphagia scores at the time of manometry had an inverse relationship with the change in dysphagia scores (EGJOO: r = -0.446, P = 0.033) (normal manometry: r = -0.464, P = 0.045). Conclusions Patients with EGJOO have a prognosis distinct from patients referred for manometry but who have a normal study and are likely to improve. However, even in patients with EGJOO, severe symptoms are likely to improve. Further investigation of therapies is warranted.