Esophageal visceral pain sensitivity: effects of TENS and correlation with manometric findings.

Increased esophageal visceral sensitivity has been suggested to be an important factor in the development of esophageal chest pain. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been found effective in the treatment of visceral heart pain in severe angina pectoris, but its effect on esophageal pain perception is not known. In this study, we used the method of graded intraesophageal balloon distension to study the effects of TENS on esophageal motility and pain sensitivity. In addition, we explored the relationship between manometric findings and esophageal susceptibility to pain. TENS reduced symptoms during balloon distension significantly and decreased peristaltic velocity. Increased visceral perception was positively correlated to the amplitude and duration of the esophageal peristalsis. This study suggests a correlation between increased peristaltic waves and visceral perception in the esophagus. TENS appears to reduce esophageal pain sensitivity and thus may be a useful treatment for noncardiac chest pain of esophageal origin.