Correlation of high-frequency esophageal ultrasonography and manometry in the study of esophageal motility.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: No studies correlate manometric measurements with morphological changes during the esophageal peristaltic sequence. The aim of this study was to develop and use a system for sonographically imaging the esophageal wall while simultaneously recording esophageal pressure changes.

METHODS

An ultrasonography transducer attached to a manometric probe was used to evaluate the esophagus.

RESULTS

Four sonographic phases of an esophageal peristaltic sequence were identified. The esophageal lumen was not open at rest in phase 1 (resting), increased to a maximum mean circumference of 4.90 +/- 0.57 cm in phase 2 (passive distention), and returned to a closed position in phases 3 (contraction) and 4 (relaxation). The muscle layers of the esophageal wall were baseline resting width in phase 1, decreased in width during phase 2, increased and reached maximum mean widths during phase 3, and returned to baseline widths during phase 4. The measurement of esophageal intraluminal pressure remained at a baseline resting level during phases 1 and 2, increased to a maximum mean peak of 67.95 +/- 9.18 mm Hg during phase 3, and returned to baseline during phase 4.

CONCLUSIONS

A combined ultrasonography transducer/manometry probe was used to dynamically and simultaneously evaluate esophageal wall motion, muscle thickness, and esophageal pressure changes during peristalsis.