Topographic analysis of esophageal double-peaked waves

Background & Aims: Esophageal double-peaked waves occur with increased freq uency in patients with functional esophageal symptoms. This study was under taken to further understand the mechanisms responsible for their production . Methods: Topographic methods that consider temporal and spatial relations hips of pressure data were used to examine 74 double-peaked waves detected in 18 subjects referred for manometric evaluation of unexplained symptoms. The studies were performed with a computerized data acquisition and analysi s system designed for topographic plotting. Results: The second peak appear ed to represent muscle contraction that merged with an unusually strong pre ssure site in the third topographic segment and covered 6.3 +/- 1.6 cm (33. 5% +/- 8.5% esophageal length) proximal to this site. In 50 swallows (67.6% ), the peak itself progressed in a retrograde direction at 13.2 +/- 10.8 cm /s, suggesting cephalad extension of a strong distal motor event. Analysis of wave onsets and movement: of the peristaltic trailing edge detected retr ograde propagation in up to 33.8% of waves, antegrade propagation in 2.7%, and simultaneous contraction in the remainder. Conclusions: In symptomatic patients, the second peak in a double-peaked wave is typically a short, sim ultaneous, or retrograde pressure event in the region of and merging with t he third topographic segment in the distal esophageal body. Topographic met hods help explain the common association of these waveforms with other feat ures of exaggerated contraction in the distal esophagus and suggest their r elationship to inadequate inhibitory nerve function.