Rapid drinking challenge during high-resolution manometry is complementary to timed barium esophagogram for diagnosis and follow-up of achalasia.

BACKGROUND

Esophageal stasis is a hallmark of achalasia. Timed barium esophagogram (TBE) is used to measure stasis but exposes patients to ionizing radiation. It is suggested that esophageal stasis can be objectified on high-resolution manometry (HRM) as well using a rapid drinking challenge test (RDC). We aimed to assess esophageal stasis in achalasia by a RDC during HRM and compare this to TBE.

METHODS

Thirty healthy subjects (15 male, age 40 [IQR 34-49]) and 90 achalasia patients (53 male, age 47 [36-59], 30 untreated/30 treated symptomatic/30 treated asymptomatic) were prospectively included to undergo HRM with RDC and TBE. RDC was performed by drinking 200 mL of water. Response to RDC was measured by basal and relaxation pressure in the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) and esophageal pressurization during the last 5 seconds.

KEY RESULTS

EGJ basal and relaxation pressure during RDC were higher in achalasia compared to healthy subjects (overall P < .01). Esophageal body pressurization was significantly higher in untreated (43 [33-35 mm Hg]) and symptomatic treated patients (25 [16-32] mm Hg) compared to healthy subjects (6 [3-7] mm Hg) and asymptomatic treated patients (11 [8-15] mm Hg, overall P < .01). A strong correlation was observed between esophageal pressurization during RDC and barium column height at 5 minutes on TBE (r = .75, P < .01), comparable to the standard predictor of esophageal stasis, IRP (r = .66, P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: The RDC can reliably predict esophageal stasis in achalasia and adequately measure treatment response to a degree comparable to TBE. We propose to add this simple test to each HRM study in achalasia patients.