Manometric characteristics of the upper esophageal sphincter recorded witha microsleeve

OBJECTIVES: We compared manometric recordings of the upper esophageal sphin cter (UES) recorded with a miniature sleeve to those obtained using standar d manometry. METHODS: The UES pressure of eight volunteer subjects was measured by stati on pull-through (SPT), by rapid pull-through (RPT), and with a microsleeve sensor for 30 min, followed by 15 mill of esophageal acid infusion. Degluti tive UES relaxation recorded with a microsleeve and solid state sensor were compared. RESULTS: The UES pressure recorded with the microsleeve (25 +/- 9 mm Hg) wa s significantly less than that by SPT (114 +/- 18 mm Hg) or RPT (152 +/- 19 mm Hg), and was unaffected by acid infusion. Periods of low UES pressure w ere observed during long interswallow intervals (II +/- 4, range 6-18 mm Hg ). Deglutitive relaxation duration and intrabolus pressure measured with th e microsleeve were less than those recorded by the solid state transducer. CONCLUSIONS: "Normal" UES pressure is heavily dependent on measurement, tec hnique; pressures obtained with a miniature sleeve are a fraction of those obtained by SPT or RPT. During periods of relative comfort with minimal swa llowing, UES tone is approximately 10 mm Hg, similar to that during sleep. Volume modulation of deglutitive UES relaxation is demonstrable with a micr osleeve, albeit with less precision than with a solid-state transducer. (C) 2001 by Am. Cell. of Gastroenterology.