Abnormal esophagocardiac inhibitory reflex in patients with diffuse esophageal spasm

The aim of this study was to establish if patients with an esophageal dysmotility similar to that found in the majority of patients with 'swallow syncope' may also have a pathologic esophagocardiac reflex similar to that observed in these patients. The effects on heart rate induced by dry and solid swallows and by intraesophageal balloon distension were studied in 8 normal subjects and in 10 patients with diffuse esophageal spasm by simultaneous recording of ECG and intraesophageal pressures. Dry swallows induced a brief increase in heart rate, while deglutition of a solid bolus initially induced an increase followed by a decrease in heart rate, significantly more marked in patients with diffuse spasm. The intraesophageal balloon inflation induced a decrease in heart rate which was significantly more intense in patients with diffuse spasm. In conclusion, the esophageal wall distension either due to solid bolus ingestion or to balloon inflation elicits an inhibitory esophagocardiac reflex which is more intense in patients with diffuse spasm and might induce cardiac arrhythmias in predisposed subjects.