Prolonged recording of oesophageal and lower oesophageal sphincter pressure using a portable water-perfused manometric system

The aim of our study was to investigate the recording fidelity of a water-p erfused micromanometric catheter with incorporated sleeve combined with a n ewly developed portable water-perfused manometric system For pharyngeal, oe sophageal and lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) pressure recording. The sys tem's performance was assessed in prolonged recordings in ambulant gastro-o esophageal reflux dis ease (GORD) patients. Eighty 24-h studies in GORD pat ients, carried out with the perfused portable manometric system, were evalu ated. Twelve of these recordings were analysed in detail in order to compar e oesophageal and LOS motor patterns with those described previously paired 2-h manometric recordings of the pharynx, oesophagus, LOS and stomach, usi ng the new system and a conventional perfused stationary manometric system, were performed in eight healthy subjects. With the portable manometric sys tem oesophageal contractions, transient LOS relaxations, swallow-associated prolonged LOS relaxations and LOS pressures were recorded with equal fidel ity to the conventional manometric system. Recordings obtained with the por table system showed meal-related and diurnal Variations in oesophageal and LOS variables that were similar to these Found in studies using conventiona l equipment. The new manometric system, consisting of a perfused micromanom etric catheter with incorporated sleeve and a portable perfusion system, en ables prolonged studies on oesophageal and LOS motor patterns in ambulant s ubjects.