Esophageal Motility in the Supine and Upright Positions for Liquid and Solid Swallows Through High-resolution Manometry

Abstract

Background/Aims

Most recent studies using high-resolution manometry were based on supine liquid swallows. This study was to evaluate the differences in esophageal motility for liquid and solid swallows in the upright and supine positions, and to determine the percentages of motility abnormalities in different states.

Methods

Twenty-four asymptomatic volunteers and 26 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease underwent high-resolution manometry using a 36-channel manometry catheter. The peristalses of 10 water and 10 steamed bread swallows were recorded in both supine and upright positions. Integrated relaxation pressure, contractile front velocity, distal latency (DL) and the distal contractile integral (DCI) were investigated and comparisons between postures and boluses were analyzed. Abnormal peristalsis of patients was assessed applying the corresponding normative values.

Results

In total, 829 swallows from healthy volunteers and 959 swallows from patients were included. (1) The upright position provided lower integrated relaxation pressure, shorter DL and weaker DCI than the supine position. (2) In the comparison of liquid swallows, the mean for contractile front velocity was obviously reduced while DL and DCI were increased in solid swallows. (3) The supine position detected more hypotensive peristalsis than the upright position. The upright position provided more rapid and premature contraction than the supine position but there was no statistically significant difference.

Conclusions

Supine solid swallows occur with more hypotensive peristalsis. Analysis should be based on normative values from the corresponding posture and bolus.

Introduction

High-resolution esophageal pressure topography was described by Clouse and Staiano for clinical practice since the 1990s.¹ The evolution of technology combined high-resolution manometry (HRM) and pressure topography plotting. High-resolution esophageal manometry is more sensitive to esophageal dysmotility that causes symptoms.^2-5 It increases the accuracy of predicting bolus transport and facilitates the analysis of esophageal motility.^2-4

The current diagnostic criterion for an esophageal pressure topography result is based on the Chicago classification, which is predicated on 10 repeated 5 mL water-swallows in the supine position.^6-9 But generally speaking, swallowing occurs in the upright position with the liquid and solid substances. In the supine position, some patients may not be able to tolerate the manometry such as those with achalasia. Clinical symptoms are triggered easier by solid than by small volumes of water. So it may be more reasonable to evaluate esophageal peristalsis during the solid swallowing and in the upright position.

Some investigations reported that esophageal peristalsis was altered with body posture and type of bolus.^10-14 Many authors have pointed out that the percentages of normal waves were lower in the sitting position with solid swallows,^12,13,15 and the distal esophageal contractile response showed an increased number of failed swallows and simultaneous contractions for solids compared to liquids, especially in the upright position.¹³ A study by Bernhard et al¹⁶ showed there was a significant difference between the proportions of patients with normal manometry during recumbent water swallows (74%), upright water swallows (60%), recumbent bread swallows (58%) and upright bread swallows (49%). The percentages of patients with ineffective esophageal motility were greater in the upright and bread swallows.

However, all of previous studies evaluated abnormal peristalsis applying the normative values with supine liquid swallows. This suggests that cutoffs for abnormality established in the supine position may not be valid in the sitting position.

The aim of this study was to establish normative values for liquid and solid swallows in the supine and upright positions. Then the percentages of esophageal motility abnormalities for patients in different postures and boluses were assessed based upon the normal values from healthy volunteers.

Materials and Methods

Subjects

Twenty-four asymptomatic volunteers (male 11:female 13, average 38.0 ± 10.0 years old, body mass index 22.3 ± 5.2 Kg/m²) and 26 patients (male 12:female 24, average 44.8 ± 8.7 years old, body mass index 22.5 ± 3.2 Kg/m²) were recruited by advertisement or word of mouth. An exclusion criterion was upper gastrointestinal surgery history. No medication affecting esophageal motility or antacids were used for at least 1 week. All subjects underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to rule out peptic ulcers, malignant tumors and erosive gastritis. Informed consent was obtained prior to participation in the study. The asymptomatic volunteers were without any gastrointestinal symptoms for at least 6 months. Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were included, as assessed by the self-administered GERD questionnaire (GerdQ score ≥ 8). The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

Manometry Procedure

Manometric data were obtained using a 4.2 mm outer diameter solid-state manometry catheter assembly with 36 circumferential sensors spaced at 1 cm intervals (Manoscan 360; Sierra Scientific Instruments Inc, Los Angeles, CA, USA). Studies were performed after a minimum of 8 hours fasting. The catheter was calibrated and zeroed to atmospheric pressure. It was inserted intranasally until at least three sensors were in the stomach and positioned by taping it to the nose to record the pressure from the hypopharynx to the stomach. All participants began with a supine (flat on the back 0-20°) or upright position (sitting in a chair 70-90°) randomly. After a 5- to 10-minute period of acclimatization and recording basal pressure for 30 seconds without swallowing, subjects underwent 10 water swallows (5 mL) and 10 steamed bread swallows (2 cm × 2 cm × 2 cm). They were instructed to swallow only once and not to swallow again until the next bolus. Each swallow was allowed at 20 to 30 seconds interval. Sequentially, subjects changed to the other posture and repeated the water and steamed bread swallows.

Data Analysis

Manometric data were initially analyzed using ManoView™ analysis software 2.0.1 version (Sierra Scientific Instruments Inc). Then one person was scrutinized on a case-by-case basis and adjusted manually, if necessary, to ensure the accuracy of every parameter. A swallow with more than once deglutition or cough was rejected. The asymptomatic volunteers that had less than 70 percent intact swallows for any position and bolus were rejected.

The parameters of 4 seconds integrated relaxation pressure (IRP), contractile front velocity (CFV), distal latency (DL) and distal contractile integral (DCI) were measured.⁷ Comparisons were then made between different postures and boluses. A swallow was defined as a hypotensive contraction if the value of DCI was less than the normative value of the DCI. Rapid contraction was defined when the CFV of patients was over the upper limit of mean ± SD. When DL was lower than the lower limit mean ± SD, it was recorded as a premature contraction. Rapid and premature contractions were not evaluated for swallows with minimal (< 3 cm) integrity of the 20 mmHg isobaric contour distal to the proximal pressure trough.

Statistical Methods

Results are reported as mean ± SE (SD) and median (interquartile range [IQR]). A Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test and paired t test were used for between group analysis (supine vs. upright and liquid vs. solid). Abnormal peristalsis was compared using a Chi-square test. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

Fifty subjects (24 asymptomatic volunteers and 26 patients) were recruited. Of the 24 asymptomatic volunteers, 2 were rejected because of less than 70 percent perfect swallows. One asymptomatic subject and 1 patient could not tolerate the manometry protocol and dropped out. Twenty-one healthy volunteers and 25 patients were included in the final analysis. A total of 829 swallows from healthy participants (210 supine liquid, 205 supine solid, 205 upright liquid and 209 upright solid) and 959 swallows of patients (249 supine liquid, 232 supine solid, 250 upright liquid and 228 upright solid) were included.

Differences in Esophageal Peristalsis in the Supine and Upright Positions

As evident in Table 1, in both liquid and solid swallows, compared to the supine position, the IRP, DCI and DL of healthy volunteers were all significantly reduced in the upright position, while CFV was increased slightly (liquid P = 0.140 and solid P = 0.281).

Table 1.

Normal Values for the Parameters of Esophageal Motility From 21 Healthy Volunteers in Supine and Upright Positions for Liquid and Solid Swallows

^aP-value presented the comparison between upright and supine position with paired t test; ^bWith statistical difference (P < 0.05) compared between liquid and solid of the corresponding posture with paired t test.

IQR, interquartile range; IRP, integrated relaxation pressure; CFV, contractile front velocity; DL, distal latency; DCI, distal contractile integral.

The data for esophageal motility from patients are shown in Table 2. The results were similar to those from healthy subjects. Significantly decreased IRP and DCI could be seen in the upright position of patients. CFV was a little faster (liquid P = 0.287 and solid P = 0.458) while DL was a little shorter in the upright position (liquid P = 0.059 and solid P = 0.068).

Table 2.

Values of the Parameters for Esophageal Motility From 25 Patients in Supine and Upright Positions for Liquid and Solid Swallows

^aP-value presented the comparison between upright and supine position with paired t test or Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test; ^bWith statistical difference (P < 0.05) compared between liquid and solid of the corresponding postures.

IQR, interquartile range; IRP, integrated relaxation pressure; CFV, contractile front velocity; DL, distal latency; DCI, distal contractile integral.

Difference in Esophageal Peristalsis for Liquid and Solid Boluses

For solid swallows, DL and DCI were increased with statistical significance compared to liquid swallows (DL, both P = 0.000 and DCI, both P = 0.000) in any position. CFV was obviously decreased for solid swallows (supine P = 0.005 and upright P = 0.000). The difference in IRP was not statistically significantly different for liquid (P = 0.785) and solid swallows (P = 0.068) (Table 1).

The solid swallows of patients had a slower CFV (supine P = 0.006 and upright P = 0.001), longer DL (both supine and upright P = 0.000) and stronger DCI (both P = 0.000). IRP was similar between solid (P = 0.425) and liquid (P = 0.384) swallows (Table 2).

Esophageal Dysmotility in Different Positions and Boluses

In the comparison with healthy controls, only DC was decreased significantly in patients (supine liquid P = 0.028, supine solid P = 0.007, upright liquid P = 0.047 and upright solid P = 0.030) (Fig. 1).

Figure 1.

The values (mean and SE) of distal contractile integral from the controls and patients in supine and upright positions for liquid and solid swallows. All ^*P < 0.05 indicate statistical difference between healthy volunteers and patients. DCI, distal contractile integral.

There were 111 (44.6%) hypotensive contractions in the supine liquid swallows, 100 (40.0%) in the upright liquid swallows, 125 (53.9%) in the supine solid swallows and 107 (46.9%) in the upright solid swallows. There were more hypotensive contractions in the state of supine solid swallows than supine liquid swallows (P = 0.041) (Fig. 2).

Figure 2.

Percentage of hypotensive, rapid and premature contractions in the supine and upright positions for liquid and solid swallows.

No obvious difference was observed for swallows with abnormal IRPs between different boluses and positions (22 supine liquid, 19 upright liquid, 20 supine solid and 10 supine liquid).

In the 959 swallows of patients, 796 swallows (203 supine liquid, 196 supine solid, 193 upright liquid and 204 upright solid) were analyzed for rapid contraction and premature contraction. The percentages of rapid and premature contractions were not significantly different in any position or type of bolus (all P > 0.05) (Fig. 2).

Discussion

Deglutition occurs almost exclusively in the upright position. It seems more reasonable to evaluate esophageal symptoms in the more physiologic upright position,¹⁶ especially in patients with severe impairment of bolus transport. Solid bolus may trigger dysmotility more easily than small volumes of water.¹³ This study investigated the influence of posture and bolus consistency on esophageal motility in the supine and upright positions for liquid and solid swallows using a solid HRM system and also assessed the percentages of esophageal motility abnormalities for patients in different postures and boluses based on the corresponding normative values from healthy volunteers.

The major findings were that: (1) the IRP, DL and DCI were significantly lower in the upright position than in the supine position; (2) slower CFV, longer DL and stronger DCI were seen for the solid compared to liquid swallows; (3) patients with GERD had weaker esophageal body pressure than healthy volunteers; and (4) more hypotensive cases were seen in the supine solid swallows, while rapid and premature contractions showed no statistical difference for different postures and boluses.

While the workload was increased in the supine position and solid swallowing, esophageal contractile responses were slower (lower CFV and longer DL) and more vigorous (greater DCI). Also, there was a decrease in IRP in the upright compared to the supine position. The changes in esophageal motility metrics with different positions and boluses were consistent with previous studies.^11,12,14 In our study, IRP was slightly influenced by bolus consistency while the effect of posture on CFV was not significant. Xiao et al¹⁴ reported CFV was much faster in the supine position than in the upright position. The reason for this may be related to differences in demographic factors between the populations studied such as age, obesity, racial background and details of the swallowing protocol.^14,17-19

In the comparison of positions, an increased frequency of hypotensive peristalsis was seen in the supine position. More rapid and premature contractions were present in the upright position since bolus transport depends on esophageal function completely in the supine position. Without the help of gravity, more failed swallows and very hypotensive peristalses were seen in the supine position and bolus transporting was faster in the upright position. Most previous studies demonstrated that atypical wave forms (defined as non-transmitted, simultaneous and simultaneous/repetitive) were increased in the upright position compared to the supine position.^11,12,20 Another study reviewed 96 patients for dysphagia, chest pain and GERD symptoms, which found that differences between the percentages of normal, ineffective and simultaneous swallows were not statistically significant in supine and upright positions for liquids and solids in all patients.¹⁶ These differences may have derived from using supine normal values to interpret upright or sitting manometric studies in previous studies. This resulted in excess peristaltic dysfunction in the upright position. This issue also may be related to demographic differences.¹³

Previous data revealed a solid or viscous bolus produced more hypotensive contractions than liquids.^11-13,21 Basseri et al²² published a study on 41 dysphagia patients comparing esophageal contractions elicited by viscous and liquid boluses. They found that a viscous bolus produced more hypotensive and simultaneous contractions. In our study, solid swallows had more hypotensive contractions than liquid swallows. There was a statistically significant difference in the supine position rather than the upright position. The possible mechanism is that a bolus transported in the supine position only depends on esophageal function, while the upright position has the help of gravity. The esophagus must work harder to transport a bread bolus in the supine position²³ and some subjects failed to respond to the "physiological challenge" of solid swallows. Then failed swallows and very hypotensive peristalsis were increased in solid swallows.

The normative values are not universal and valid for different manometry systems and catheters. For example, the 2.7 mm thick solid-state HRM catheter provides somewhat different data from the usually used 4.2 mm thick catheter.²⁴

In conclusion, specific normative values should be applied in different study conditions. Supine solid swallows are more easily accompanied by hypotensive peristalsis. Also, a synthetic evaluation of esophageal function in the supine and upright positions for liquids and solids may be more helpful in making diagnosis.