Space-time pressure structure of pharyngo-esophageal segment during swallowing

We applied high-resolution manometry with spatiotemporal data interpolation and simultaneous videofluoroscopy to normal pharyngeal swallows to correla te specific features in the space-time intraluminal pressure structure with physiological events and normal deglutitive transsphincteric bolus flow to define normal biomechanical properties of the pharyngoesophageal (PE) segm ent. Pressures were recorded by microperfused catheter, and the two-dimensi onal space-time data sets were plotted as isocontours. On these were superi mposed bolus trajectories, anatomic segment movements, and hyo-laryngeal tr ajectories from concurrent videofluoroscopy. Correlation of the highly repr oducible space-time-pressure structure with radiographic images confirmed t hat primary deglutitive PE segment functions (pressure profile, laryngeal e levation, axial sphincter motion, timing of relaxation, contraction) are ac curately discernible from single isocontour pressure visualization. Pressur e during bolus flow was highly dependent on axial location within PE segmen t and time instant. The intrabolus pressure domain, corresponding to the sp ace-time region between bolus head and tail trajectories, demonstrated sign ificant bolus volume dependence. High-resolution manometry accurately, comp rehensively, and highly reproducibly depicts the PE segment space-time-pres sure structure and specific physiological events related to upper esophagea l sphincter opening and transsphincteric flow during normal swallowing. Int rabolus pressure variations are highly dependent on position within the PE segment and time.