Wet swallows stimulate abnormal contractions in patients with oesophageal motility disorders.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dry and wet swallows on oesophageal contractions in patients with oesophageal motility disorders (achalasia, diffuse oesophageal spasm and "intermediate" motility disorders). Wet swallows resulted in greater amplitude of oesophageal contractions than did dry swallows, both in patients with oesophageal motility disorders and controls. In patients with oesophageal motility disorders wet swallows were also followed by a greater incidence of repetitive contractions than dry swallows. This increased incidence of abnormal contractions correlated significantly with the increase in oesophageal baseline pressure during wet swallows. The administration of pentagastrin further increased the amplitude and duration of oesophageal contractions in patients with oesophageal motility disorders, but the incidence of abnormal contractions remained unaltered. It is concluded that wet swallows compared to dry swallows pronounce the abnormality of oesophageal contractions in patients with oesophageal motility disorders.