FIGURE 5.

Effect of bolus consistency on esophageal motility in a healthy subject. The esophageal contraction tends to be faster (shorter distal latency), less well coordinated (larger break in contractile front) and less vigorous (lower DCI) in wet swallows (left panel) than solid swallows (right panel). Additionally the IRP is increased for solid swallows due to higher viscous resistance to bolus passage through the EGJ. Appropriate normative values must be applied. Solid swallows can augment peristaltic motility in health and, as in the case presented, demonstrate contractile reserve in patients with ineffective motility during water swallows. Image courtesy of Oesophageal Laboratory, University College London.