CORRELATION OF HIGH-FREQUENCY ESOPHAGEAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND MANOMETRY IN THE STUDY OF ESOPHAGEAL MOTILITY

Background & Aims: No studies correlate manometric measurements with m orphological changes during the esophageal peristaltic sequence. The a im of this study was to develop and use a system for sonographically i maging the esophageal wall while simultaneously recording esophageal p ressure changes. Methods: An ultrasonography transducer attached to a manometric probe was used to evaluate the esophagus. Results: Four son ographic phases of an esophageal peristaltic sequence were identified. The esophageal lumen was not open at vest in phase 1 (resting), incre ased to a maximum mean circumference of 4.90 +/- 0.57 cm in phase 2 (p assive distention), and returned to a closed position in phases 3 (con traction) and 4 (relaxation). The muscle layers of the esophageal wall were at baseline resting width in phase 1, decreased in width during phase 2, increased and reached maximum mean widths during phase 3, and returned to baseline widths during phase 4. The measurement of esopha geal intraluminal pressure remained at a baseline resting level during phases 1 and 2, increased to a maximum mean peak of 67.95 +/- 9.18 mm Hg during phase 3, and returned to baseline during phase 4. Conclusio ns: A combined ultrasonography transducer/manometry probe was used to dynamically and simultaneously evaluate esophageal wall motion, muscle thickness, and esophageal pressure changes during peristalsis.