Gastrointestinal involvement in insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus

Gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction in diabetes mellitus has never been evaluated systematically in all parts of the digestive system in a group of diabetics. Therefore, we have evaluated the frequency, extent, and clinical significance of GI complications in 75 consecutive, male, insulin-requiring diabetics (46 with neuropathy). Nineteen percent of the 75 patients and 30% of those with neuropathy had one or more GI symptoms. Esophageal, gastric, gallbladder, and small intestinal functions were studied in 30 patients using radionuclide esophageal and gastric emptying, postprandial gallbladder emptying, and intestinal transit of lactulose. We divided them into three groups: (1) 10 without neuropathy, (2) 10 with peripheral neuropathy, and (3) 10 with autonomic and peripheral neuropathy. Twenty-five patients (83%) had abnormalities of at least one GI organ, and 57% had abnormalities of two. Nineteen of the 25 patients (76%) with GI involvement and 8 of 9 (89%) symptomatic diabetics had delayed esophageal emptying. Symptomatic diabetics had more diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, and autonomic dysfunction than asymptomatic diabetics and also had more widespread and more severe gastrointestinal involvement than asymptomatic diabetics. Therefore, our results indicate that in diabetics, (1) gastrointestinal motor abnormalities are common even though they are usually asymptomatic and (2) gastrointestinal dysfunction, especially in symptomatic diabetics, is often widespread and usually includes the esophagus.     

Gastric Emptying in Patients with Insulin-Requiring Diabetes Mellitus

Gastric emptying of technetium labeled liquid and solid meals were studied in a group of long-standing, insulin-requiring male diabetics to evaluate the relationship of gastroparesis to symptoms, diabetic control, and diabetic complications. Control subjects and three groups of diabetics were studied: A) no neuropathy; B) peripheral neuropathy; and C) peripheral and autonomic neuropathy. Nine diabetics had gastrointestinal symptoms. Gastric t1/2 liquid emptying was similar in all groups and in controls, but liquid gastric emptying in the first 15 min was significantly more rapid in the diabetics than controls. Solid emptying was prolonged in group C patients. There was a significant correlation between t1/2 solid emptying and the severity of neuropathy. The eight patients with slow solid emptying had more neuropathy and gastrointestinal symptoms than the remaining 22 patients. The type and duration of diabetes, diabetic control, and frequency of retinopathy are independent of gastroparesis. These data indicate that delayed emptying of solids is common (27%) in patients with clinically detectable neuropathy and may often be asymptomatic. Visceral autonomic neuropathy seems the most important underlying factor in diabetic gastroparesis.     

Gastrointestinal motor dysfunction, symptoms, and neuropathy in noninsulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes mellitus.

Although relatively frequent. diabetic involvement of digestive tract motility has not been investigated extensively in different organs. The authors studied esophageal, gastric, and gallbladder motor function in 35 type 2 (noninsulin-dependent) diabetic patients to determine the extent of gut involvement. Of these patients, 27 (77%) had peripheral neuropathy, 12 (34%) had both peripheral and autonomic neuropathy, and 22 (63%) had gastrointestinal symptoms. Esophageal manometric abnormalities were recorded in 18 patients, and delayed radionuclide emptying of the esophagus was documented in 16 patients, with a 83% concordance between the two tests. Scintigraphic gastric emptying of solids was delayed in 56% of patients, whereas gallbladder emptying after cholecystokinin stimulation was reduced in 69% of them. In 74% of patients at least one of the viscera under investigation showed abnormal motor function; however, only 36% of patients displayed involvement of the three organs. Gastrointestinal symptoms, duration and therapy of diabetes, previous poor glycemic control, and retinopathy did not correlate with the presence or the extent of motor disorders. Neuropathy was not predictive of gastrointestinal involvement and its extent; however, when motor abnormalities were present in patients with neuropathy, these were usually more severe. Gastrointestinal motor disorders are frequent and widespread in type 2 diabetics, regardless of symptoms. Autonomic neuropathy has a poor predictive value on motor disorders (0.75 for the esophagus, 0.5 for the stomach, 0.8 for the gallbladder), thus suggesting the coexistence of other pathophysiologic mechanisms.     

Relationship among esophageal dysfunction,diabetic gastroenteropathy,and peripheral neuropathy

Esophageal motor function was tested in 12 patients with a clinical diagnosis of diabetic gastroenteropathy by radionuclide transit (RT) studies. Other insulin-dependent diabetics with and without symptoms of peripheral neuropathy but with no symptoms of gastrointestinal disease were similarly studied. Eleven of the 12 patients with gastroenteropathy were found to have abnormal esophageal function, even though only five had esophageal symptoms. Half the diabetics with peripheral neuropathy symptoms, and a quarter of those with no symptoms had abnormal esophageal transit studies. No abnormalities were found in a group of asymptomatic volunteers studied in a similar manner. We conclude that esophageal dysfunction, often subclinical, is present in nearly all patients with suspected diabetic gastroenteropathy. Esophageal dysfunction correlates less well with peripheral neuropathy. This study implies that if a diabetic, presenting with diarrhea or nausea and vomiting, has normal esophageal transit, then a cause for these symptoms, other than diabetic gastroenteropathy, may exist.     

Esophageal Function in Diabetes Mellitus with Special Reference to Acid Studies and Relationship to Peripheral Neuropathy

Esophageal function in 20 subjects with diabetes mellitus was assessed using esophageal manometry, 24-hr ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring, and esophageal scintigraphy. Seven patients had abnormal esophageal manometric studies, and this abnormality was significantly associated with peripheral neuropathy. Almost half of the subjects studied demonstrated excessive gastroesophageal acid reflux, but there was no correlation between the likelihood of abnormal reflux and the presence of peripheral neuropathy. Esophageal scintigraphy was relatively insensitive in the detection of abnormal esophageal function in diabetics.     

Intestinal transit in insulin-requiring diabetics

Intestinal transit was assessed in 25 insulin-requiring male diabetics and 15 healthy controls by measuring the breath hydrogen appearance time after the ingestion of both the liquid and the solid meal containing non absorbable carbohydrate. Three groups of patients were studied: A) nine patients without peripheral or autonomic neuropathy or retinopathy; B) nine patients with peripheral neuropathy; and C) seven patients with peripheral and autonomic neuropathy. Eight patients complained of gastrointestinal symptoms, including three with watery diarrhea. Intestinal transit of the solid meal was more prolonged than the liquid meal in normal and diabetic subjects. There was no significant difference in intestinal transit between normal controls and any group of diabetics; however, one-third of the diabetics had abnormal intestinal transit of the liquid test meal (four rapid, four delayed); only one patient with diarrhea had rapid intestinal transit. These data suggest that abnormal intestinal transit is common in diabetics. Altered intestinal transit is not a prerequisite of diabetic diarrhea.     

Gallbladder volume and emptying in insulin-requiring male diabetics

Gallbladder function was evaluated in 27 healthy male volunteers and 47 male insulin-requiring diabetics from a diabetic clinic. Three groups of patients were studied: 18 patients without neuropathy or retinopathy (A); 17 patients with evidence of peripheral neuropathy (B); and 12 patients with evidence of peripheral and autonomic neuropathy (C). Eleven patients complained of gastrointestinal symptoms (three in group B, eight in group C). Thirty minutes after a standard breakfast, fasting gallbladder volumes and gallbladder emptying rates were measured using a real-time mechanical sector ultrasound scanner. Fasting gallbladder volume in diabetic patients was similar to controls (24.9 +/- 2.7 N; 28.9 +/- 3.9 A; 23.7 +/- 2.2 B; 16.7 +/- 3.4 C ml mean +/- SEM). Postprandial gallbladder emptying was not significantly different in any groups (47.4 +/- 5.1% N; 43.2 +/- 7.7% A; 50.7 +/- 7.7% B; 46.8 +/- 11.1% C). Seven diabetics and two controls had poor gallbladder emptying. One screened patient had cholecystectomy, three patients had stones, and two had sludge with a thickened gallbladder wall for a total of 12.5% gallbladder disease. These data suggest that gallbladder dysfunction in male insulin-requiring diabetics is rare.     

Ano-rectal manometry as an evaluating test for impaired ano-rectal function in diabetes mellitus

Summary Diarrhea and/or rectal incontinence may represent a sign of autonomic neuropathy in diabetes. The present investigation was performed to study ano-rectal function and reactivity to appropriate stimuli in 20 diabetic patients with or without autonomic neuropathy (14 insulindependent diabetics; 6 non-insulin-dependent diabetics; mean age 39.2 years; mean duration of diabetes 12.6 years). Twenty-five healthy subjects (mean age 43.5 years) were studied as controls. All subjects underwent ano-rectal manometry by means of special open-ended-tip catheters connected with a 6-channel polygraph. A rectal latex balloon was inflated with 30 or 60 ml air to induce a stimulus which, under normal conditions, is apt to relax the internal sphincter and to contract the external one (ano-rectal inhibitory reflex). Eleven diabetics had symptoms and signs of autonomic neuropathy: 8 of these (73%) showed marked abnormalities of ano-rectal function (i.e. no response even to maximum stimulus or contraction of both sphincters). All non-neuropathic patients showed a normal pattern of ano-rectal manometry. A relationship between abnormal response to rectal stimulation and the presence of autonomic neuropathy involving the pelvic parasympathetic section or regional intramural plexuses may be suspected and demonstrated in diabetic neuropathic patients.     

Gastric and oesophageal emptying in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Abstract Gastric emptying of a digestible solid and liquid meal and oesophageal emptying of a solid bolus were measured with scintigraphic techniques in 45 randomly selected insulin-dependent diabetics and in 22 control subjects. In the diabetics, the relationships between oesophageal emptying, gastric emptying, age, duration of diabetes mellitus, upper gastrointestinal symptoms, glycaemic control and the complications, autonomic neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy and retinopathy were examined. The lag period before solid food left the stomach was not significantly different in diabetics compared with control subjects, but the percentage retention of solid food at 100 min was greater ( P < 0.001) in the diabetic subjects. Both the early phase (percentage retention at 10 min) and the 50% emptying time for liquid gastric emptying were delayed ( P < 0.001) in the diabetic subjects. Of the diabetics, 58% had delayed gastric emptying of either the solid and/or the liquid meal; oesophageal emptying was delayed in 42%. Upper gastrointestinal symptoms correlated poorly with both gastric and oesophageal emptying. Oesophageal emptying, solid gastric emptying and the liquid 50% emptying time correlated with the severity of autonomic nerve dysfunction ( P < 0.05). The early phase of liquid emptying (retention at 10 min) was significantly slower ( P < 0.05) in patients with mean plasma glucose concentrations of > 15 mmol/l during the gastric emptying test and the lag period for solid emptying correlated with both the glycosylated haemoglobin and mean plasma glucose concentrations.     

Esophageal dysfunction in diabetes mellitus

Summary Detailed roengenological examinations of the esophagus were carried out in 110 diabetics and 130 controls. In 50 (45%) diabetic patients functional abnormalities were detected. Wavy esophageal contours, irregular spontaneous contractions and functional diverticula were observable. In diabetes, these changes occurred at an earlier age and more frequently than in controls. Esophageal transit time was markedly prolonged. The clinical symptoms of dysphagia were usually mild or absent. Diabetic dysphagia is one of the manifestations of diabetic visceral neuropathy. It is attributed mainly to the diabetic damage of the vagus nerve.     

Esophageal dysmotility is more common than gastroparesis in diabetes mellitus and is associated with retinopathy

OBJECTIVES: Gastroparesis is a well-known complication of diabetes mellitus, both in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Esophageal dysmotility has also been described, but is not as well-characterized. The etiology and effect of these complications need to be clarified. The aim of the present study was to evaluate esophageal and gastric motility, complications, gastrointestinal symptoms, and plasma biomarkers in a cross-sectional study comprising patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Patients with diabetes were consecutively asked to participate, and eventually 84 volunteers were included in the study. Esophageal manometry and the gastric emptying test were performed in all patients. Type of diabetes, symptoms, diabetic complications, body mass index (BMI), and biomarkers were recorded. Patients were interviewed about gastrointestinal symptoms. RESULTS: Esophageal dysmotility was present in 63% of patients and gastroparesis in 13% of patients. There was no difference in dysmotility between patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes or between genders. Gastrointestinal symptoms did not correlate to objective findings. Age correlated negatively with gastric emptying rate (p = 0.004). Patients with esophageal dysmotility had longer duration of diabetes compared to those without dysmotility (p = 0.043). In logistic regression analysis, retinopathy was strongly associated with esophageal dysmotility, independent of duration (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Esophageal dysmotility is more common than gastroparesis in diabetes mellitus independent of gender, symptoms, and type of diabetes. There is a strong association between retinopathy and esophageal dysmotility.     

Gastroesophageal reflux in diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: Although abnormal gastroesophageal (GE) reflux is the most frequent alteration of the gastrointestinal tract, its prevalence in diabetes mellitus (DM) is not widely known. The objective of this study was to analyze both the presence of abnormal GE reflux in diabetic patients with no esophageal symptoms and the influence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CVAN) in the development of abnormal GE reflux. METHODS: Fifty insulin-dependent diabetic patients, averaging 29.2 +/- 9.0 yr of age, who had had diabetes for > 5 yr and showed no symptoms or history of gastroesophageal disease, were compared with a control group composed of 36 healthy volunteers (18 men, 18 women) whose average age was 35.9 +/- 10.1 yr. The cardiovascular autonomic nervous system was examined in the diabetics and control subjects who complied with inclusion criteria. Long-term (24-h) ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring was performed, as well as a manometric study of the lower esophageal sphincter. RESULTS: The parameters obtained from the monitoring showed significant differences (p < 0.01) between DM and control subjects. Abnormal GE reflux, defined as any percentage of time with esophageal pH < 4 exceeding 3.5% of total time (8.7 +/- 5.6%; range, 4.1-24.4%), was detected in 14 patients. Diabetic subjects were classified according to cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy tests (without CVAN [n = 19, 38%] and with abnormal CVAN tests [n = 31, 62%]). The pH monitoring parameters showed significant differences between these two groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A higher prevalence (28%) of abnormal GE reflux appeared among asymptomatic diabetic patients than among the general population. The presence of abnormal GE reflux in diabetic patients was associated with the existence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (abnormal GE reflux = 38.7% in diabetic patients with abnormal CVAN tests vs 10.5% in diabetic patients without CVAN).     

Chronic alcoholism and esophageal motor activity: a 24-h ambulatory manometry study

BACKGROUND: Stationary esophageal manometry has shown esophageal motor abnormalities in patients with chronic alcoholism. The abnormalities identified in different studies are not consistent. Twenty-four hour ambulatory esophageal manometry enables monitoring of esophageal motor activity under a variety of physiological conditions and gives a more complete assessment. METHOD: Twenty-four hour ambulatory esophageal manometry and pH-metry were performed using a combined pH and pressure catheter. Subjects with chronic alcoholism with no other illness and not in withdrawal were studied with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Autonomic nerve functions tests were performed in all subjects. RESULTS: Twenty-three chronic alcoholic subjects and 12 control subjects completed the study. The median ethanol consumption was 95 g/day (range 75 -175 g/day) for 12 years (range 5-30 years) among alcoholic subjects. Eight alcoholic subjects had heartburn and regurgitation but none had dysphagia. Ten (43%) alcoholic subjects had autonomic neuropathy and four (17%) had increased gastroesophageal acid reflux. Lower esophageal sphincter hypertension was observed in alcoholic subjects with autonomic neuropathy. Esophageal body motility parameters (i.e. frequency, duration, amplitude and percentage of peristaltic waves) were not significantly different between alcoholic subjects and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Results of ambulatory esophageal manometry on subjects with chronic alcoholism seem to indicate that long-term ethanol intake has no major effects on esophageal motor activity other than lower esophageal sphincter hypertension among those with alcoholic autonomic neuropathy.     

Esophageal function in diabetes mellitus and its relation to peripheral neuropathy.

Esophageal function was determined in 50 unselected patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Fourteen age-matched healthy subjects served as controls. The presence of peripheral neuropathy (PN) was determined by a neurological examination and by nerve conduction studies. An intraluminal transducer assembly placed in the distal esophagus measured pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter and body of the esophagus. Esophageal function was studied both before and after edrophonium chloride, 80 microgram per kg intravenously. There was no significant difference in peristaltic amplitude between the controls and diabetics. There was also no difference in amplitude when DM was divided into presence or absence of PN. However, there was a significant decrease in velocity of peristalsis in DM with PN when compared to DM without PN and to controls. Resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure in DM was similar to controls, with no difference with or without PN. Twenty-eight patients (56%) with DM had abnormal motility, characterized by frequent spontaneous contractions, and decreased prevalence of peristalsis. Abnormal motility in DM was associated with PN and was characterized by a dysfunction of esophageal innervation with intact smooth muscle function.     

Upper gastrointestinal involvement in diabetes mellitus: Study of esophagogastric function

Summary The aim of our study was to evaluate in 18 diabetic patients (11 with and 7 without evidence of autonomic neuropathy as revealed by common cardiovascular tests) alterations indicative of autonomic nervous involvement of the gastrointestinal tract, independently of the presence of suggestive symptoms. All patients, without evidence of obstructive or mucosal pathology of the upper gastrointestinal tract, underwent the following: 1) study of gastric emptying time of non-absorbable radiopaque markers (90, 120, 150 and 210 min); 2) study of gastric acid secretion: basal (BAO) and peak (PAO) acid output after sham-feeding (PAO_SF) and peak acid output after pentagastrin (PAO_PENT) · PAO_SF/PAO_PENT ratio is an index of vagal integrity; 3) esophageal manometry. Our data confirm that a delayed gastric emptying of undigestible solids is a frequent finding in diabetic subjects. This was highly significant (p<0.01) at 150 min after a standard meal, in patients with signs of autonomic neuropathy and was often associated with asymptomatic esophageal motor abnormalities. No correlation was found with index of vagal integrity, hormonal pattern and degree of glycemic control. Autonomic neuropathy cannot be considered the only explanation for gastric and esophageal abnormalities in decompensated diabetes.     

Measurement by epigastric impedance of gastric emptying in diabetic autonomic neuropathy

Changes in impedance across the epigastrium form the basis of a new non-invasive method of assessing gastric emptying of liquids. The apparatus is simple to use at the bedside and, in conjunction with conventional investigations, is of value in diagnosing gastroparesis in patients with diabetic autonomic neuropathy and symptoms of recurrent vomiting. We measured gastric emptying of liquids in 22 diabetics aged 33.4 +/- 9 years (mean +/- SD) with severe symptomatic autonomic neuropathy (mean heart rate variability 4.9 +/- 2.2 SD beats/min), and 15 normal controls. Median 'half emptying' time in the diabetics with autonomic neuropathy was prolonged overall but it was not always abnormal (12.25 min, range 6.5-greater than 30 compared to 8.0 min, range 3-17; p less than 0.01). Results in five diabetics with symptoms of recurrent vomiting corresponded with those using conventional radiological methods, confirming gastroparesis in three instances and excluding it in two. The effect of metoclopramide was also studied and was shown to accelerate gastric emptying in some but not all of the patients. Assessment of gastric emptying using the impedance method assists in establishing the diagnosis of gastroparesis and is of value for repeated measurements.     

Postprandial hypotension in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

This study attempted to determine whether postprandial hypotension (PPH) is associated with diabetes mellitus by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24-h ABPM) and by monitoring blood pressure during 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (75-g OGTT) in 15 normal subjects and 35 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. When we defined PPH as a postprandial decrease in systolic blood pressure of greater than 20 mmHg, the incidence of PPH in diabetics was 37% by 24-h ABPM and 20% by 75-g OGTT. The incidence of proliferative retinopathy and proteinuria was greater in diabetics with PPH than in those without PPH. All of the patients with PPH had somatic and autonomic neuropathy. The C-peptide response was lower in diabetics with PPH than in those without PPH. We revealed the presence of PPH in diabetics, and found that PPH was closely related to disease severity, especially diabetic autonomic neuropathy.     

Influence of endoscopic submucosal dissection on esophageal motility

AIM: To assess esophageal motility after esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). METHODS: Twelve patients (6 men and 6 women) aged 53-64 years (mean age, 58 years) who underwent regular examination 3-12 mo after esophageal ESD for neoplasms of the esophageal body were included in this study. The ESD procedure was performed under deep sedation using a combination of propofol and fentanyl, and involved a submucosal injection to lift the lesion and use of a dual-knife and an insulated-tip knife to create a circumferential incision around the lesion extending into the submucosa. Esophageal motility was examined using a high-resolution manometry system. Dysphagia was graded using a five-point scale according to the Mellow and Pinkas scoring system. Patient symptoms and the results of esophageal manometry were then analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 12 patients enrolled, 1 patient hadgrade 2 dysphagia, 1 patient had grade 1 dysphagia, and 3 patients complained of sporadic dysphagia. Ineffective esophageal motility was observed in 5 of 6 patients with above semi-circumference of resection extension. Of these 5 patients, 1 patient complained of grade 2 dysphagia (with esophageal stricture), one patient complained of grade 1 dysphagia, and 3 patients complained of sporadic dysphagia. Normal esophageal body manometry was observed in all 6 patients with below semi-circumference of resection extension. The 6 patients with normal esophageal motility did not complain of dysphagia. CONCLUSION: Extensive esophageal ESD may cause esophageal dysmotility in some patients, and might also have an influence on dysphagia although without esophageal stricture.     

Comparison of bolus transit patterns identified by esophageal impedance to barium esophagram in patients with dysphagia

Bolus transit through the esophagus has not been validated by videoesophagram in patients with dysphagia and changes in impedance with abnormal barium transit have not been described in those patients. The aim of this study was to compare esophageal impedance findings with barium esophagram measurements in patients with dysphagia. The consecutive patients with dysphagia underwent conventional multichannel esophageal impedance manometry, after which a barium videoesophagram was performed simultaneously with multichannel esophageal impedance manometry using a mean of three swallows of barium. Esophageal emptying patterns shown in the esophagogram were classified by the degree of intraesophageal stasis and presence of intraesophageal reflux. Bolus transit patterns in impedance were classified as complete and incomplete transit. Sixteen patients (M : F = 8 : 8, mean age, 47 years) were enrolled. Their manometric diagnosis were normal (n= 6), ineffective esophageal motility (n= 1), diffuse esophageal spasm (DES; n= 2), and achalasia (n= 7). Sixty‐three swallows were analyzed. According to impedance analysis, 21/22 swallows with normal barium emptying showed complete transit (96%) and 31/32 swallows with severe stasis showed incomplete transit (97%). Nine swallows with mild stasis showed either complete or incomplete transit patterns in impedance. Swallows with mild barium stasis and complete transit in impedance were observed in patients who had received treatment (two patients with achalasia with history of esophageal balloonplasty and a patient with DES after nifedipine administration). Impedance reflected severe stasis with retrograde barium movement and described typical bolus transit patterns in patients with achalasia and DES. In conclusion, impedance‐barium esophagram concordance is high for swallows with normal esophageal emptying and for severe barium stasis in patients with dysphagia.     

Multichannel intraluminal impedance for the assessment of post-fundoplication dysphagia

Dysphagia often occurs after fundoplication, although its pathophysiology is not clear. We sought to better understand postfundoplication dysphagia by measuring esophageal clearance with multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) along with more traditional work-up (manometry, upper gastrointestinal imaging [UGI], endoscopy). We evaluated 80 consecutive patients after laparoscopic fundoplication between April 2002 and November 2004. Patients were evaluated clinically and underwent simultaneous manometry and MII, 24-hour pH monitoring, endoscopy, and UGI. For analysis, patients were divided into the following groups based on the presence of dysphagia and fundoplication anatomy (by UGI/endoscopy): (1) Dysphagia and normal anatomy; (2) Dysphagia and abnormal anatomy; (3) No dysphagia and abnormal anatomy; and (4) No dysphagia and normal anatomy. Patients with dysphagia (Groups 1 & 2) had similar peristalsis (manometry), but were more likely to have impaired clearance by MII (32 pts, 62%) than those without dysphagia (9 pts, 32%, P = 0.01). Patients with abnormal anatomy (Groups 2 & 3) were also more likely to have impaired esophageal clearance (66%vs. 38%, P = 0.01). Finally, of patients that had normal fundoplication anatomy, those with dysphagia were much more likely to have impaired clearance (12 pts, 52%) than those with dysphagia (4 pts, 21%, P = 0.03). MII after fundoplication provides objective evidence of esophageal clearance, and is commonly abnormal in patients with abnormal fundoplication anatomy and/or dysphagia. Esophageal clearance is impaired in the majority of patients with postoperative dysphagia, even with normal fundoplication anatomy and normal peristalsis. MII may detect disorders in esophageal motility not detected by manometry.