Clinical and Radiologic Evaluation Reveals High Prevalence of Abnormalities in Young Adults with Dysphagia

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the radiologic findings in young adults with dysphagia undergoing barium swallow and to compare these with the final clinical diagnosis. Clinical history, barium swallow, endoscopy (21 patients), manometry (18 patients), 24 h pH monitoring (4 patients), and outcome of treatments were studied and compared in 43 patients aged 14–30 years (mean 24 years). There were 26 men and 17 women. Duration of symptoms varied between 2 weeks and 22 years and included globus (n = 22), obstruction (n = 31), water brash (n = 6), classic reflux symptoms (n = 10), atypical reflux symptoms (n = 9), slow eating (n = 6), and vomiting (n = 11). The final diagnosis was achalasia (n = 2), arteria lusoria (n = 1), esophagitis (n = 1), esophageal dysfunction (n = 11), esophageal stricture (n = 5), gastroesophageal reflux disease (n = 8), and pharyngeal dysfunction (n = 2). Thirteen patients were assessed to be normal. The result of the barium swallow was in agreement with the final diagnosis in all but 3 patients who were assessed as normal, and the final diagnosis was esophagitis (n = 1), dysmotility (n = 1), and reflux disease (n = 1). Anatomic and functional abnormalities are common in young adults with dysphagia. Barium swallow reveals the explanation of the symptoms in 70% of such patients. Radiology therefore should be the method of choice for the investigation of dysphagic young adults.     

Antireflux surgery for symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux

To determine the effects of Nissen fundoplication upon the symptoms of reflux and the diagnostic tests employed to evaluate reflux and to examine the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux and lower esophageal sphincter pressure before and after fundoplication, 10 patients with symptomatic reflux were studied before and after operation. Clinical evaluation, barium esophagography, endoscopy with mucosal biopsy, esophageal manometry, acid-perfusion and acid-reflux testing, and gastroesophageal scintiscanning were performed on each patient before and after surgery. Following fundoplication, marked symptomatic, radiographic, endoscopic, and histologic improvement was observed. Serial acid-reflux tests at increasing gastroesophageal pressure gradients returned to normal after surgery. Lower-esophageal-sphincter (LES) pressure increased from 8.2±1.3 to 12.0±1.5 mm Hg (P<0.01). In addition, surgery resulted in a significant decrease in the gastroesophageal reflux index from 17.4±2.4 to 2.7±1.1% (P<0.001). Surprisingly, the pre- and postoperative resting LES pressures did not correlate significantly with corresponding gastroesophageal reflux indices for individual patients. We conclude that increased LES pressure alone does not explain adequately the functional and clinical improvement which follows fundoplication.     

Rehabilitation of Neurogenic Dysphagia with Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy

Neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia is common in nursing home populations, and the risk of aspiration is sufficient to indicate the need for percutaneous endoscopid gastrostomy (PEG) feedings. Although intake provided through the PEG may meet the nutritional and hydration requirements for this group of patients, the risk of complication, e.g., aspiration of reflux, skin breakdown at the site of insertion, potential for infection, digestive difficulties, higher risk of rehospitalization, pneumonia, prolonged nursing home stay, and greater morbidity than for those without PEG tubes, may compromise the gains accrued from the ease of feeding. In an attempt to reduce these complications and return individuals to per orum (PO) diets, a program was developed to treat the dysphagia. Sixteen male nursing home patients were enrolled in a treatment program based on videofluoroscopic examination. Interventions included combinations of dietary consistency modifications, compensatory techniques, and direct swallow retraining. Results indicated such an approach reintroduced successful oral feeding in all patients, improved dietary consistency, resulted in a mean weight gain of 5.1 pounds, yielded a mean albumin increase of 0.5 g/dl, and allowed PEG tubes to be removed in 10 of the 16 patients. As a result of intervention, these findings suggest significant benefits in both quality of life issues and health care savings for this neurogenically based population.     

The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in asthma patients without reflux symptoms

Gastroesophageal reflux is a potential trigger of asthma that may be clinically silent. This study examines the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in asthma patients without reflux symptoms. This prospective cohort study evaluated 26 patients with stable asthma without reflux symptoms using esophageal manometry and 24-h esophageal pH testing. Gastroesophageal reflux was considered present if esophageal acid contact times were abnormal. Demographic variables were analyzed to determine if they predicted the presence of gastroesophageal reflux. Asthma patients with asymptomatic gastroesophageal reflux were compared with 30 age-matched asthma patients with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux. The prevalence of abnormal 24-h esophageal pH tests in asthma patients without reflux symptoms was 62% (16 of 26). Demographic variables did not predict abnormal 24-h esophageal pH tests in asthma patients with asymptomatic gastroesophageal reflux. Asthma patients with asymptomatic gastroesophageal reflux had higher amounts of proximal esophageal acid exposure (p < 0.05) compared with asthma patients with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux. Because demographic variables do not predict abnormal 24-h esophageal pH tests in asthma patients without reflux symptoms, 24-h esophageal pH testing is required. This study suggests that gastroesophageal reflux is present in asthma patients, even in the absence of esophageal symptoms.     

Vagal Stimulation for Reciprocal Coupling between Glottic and Upper Esophageal Sphincter Activities in the Canine

Glottic adduction couples with relaxation of the tonically contracted upper esophageal sphincter (UES) to constitute the end point of pharyngeal swallowing. Together with deglutitive laryngeal elevation, this reciprocal relationship contributes to protecting the lungs from aspiration. Degrees of uncoordination between glottic and upper esophageal sphincters can be seen under diverse circumstances of neurologic damage such as stroke, gastroesophageal reflux, and in the growing elderly population presenting with weaker musculature. We hypothesized that reciprocal coupling between glottic closure and UES relaxation may be artificially reestablished through vagal stimulation if the appropriate neural centers and their leading pathways remain capable of exciting a critical number of motor units. Orderly recruitment of the vagus nerve was produced in three dogs with a circuit superimposing 600-Hz, 3800–0-μA blocking over 10–70-Hz, 0–2300-μA stimulating currents. Amplitudes of motor unit or compound muscle action potentials were recorded from the thyroarytenoideus and cricopharyngeus via surface electromyographic electrodes. Stimulation was accompanied by a drop in UES intraluminal pressure. The reciprocal relationship between the two muscles could be time locked within certain stimulus parameters. We submit that electronic coupling between the glottic and UESs may show promise in preventing aspiration under selected circumstances.     

Gastroesophageal Reflux—Reassessment of the Value of Fluoroscopy Based on Manometric Evaluation of the Lower Esophageal Segment

The value of fluoroscopic gastroesophageal reflux examination by barium swallow was assessed in 51 symptomatic patients. Using electronic esophageal manometry, these patients were divided in groups with frank reflux, intermittent reflux, and symptoms of other etiology. Although a high incidence between presence of an hiatal hernia and manometric reflux (0.86) was apparent, fluoroscopy was only able to identify 33% of patients suffering from reflux disease diagnosed on clinical grounds and by electronic manometry. It is concluded that the fluoroscopic test is insufficient to separate patients with reflux disease from those with similar symptoms of other etiology which may be done reliably by esophageal manometry. The role of fluoroscopy is limited to the morphological evaluation of the gastroesophageal junction.     

Videofluoroscopic Evaluation of Aspiration with Visual Examination of the Gag Reflex and Velar Movement

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between prevalence of aspiration as determined by videofluoroscopic evaluation and prevalence of the gag reflex and velar movement as determined by direct visual examination. One hundred adult patients underwent a videofluoroscopic evaluation of aspiration with either an esophagram (n = 31), upper gastrointestinal series (n = 18), small bowel series (n = 23), or modified barium swallow procedure (n = 28), and concomitant evaluation of the gag reflex and velar movement on phonation. All studies were performed using the lateral, upright position, and all patients drank at least 5 cc of single contrast barium. Aspiration was defined as penetration of material below the level of the true vocal folds. A normal gag reflex and normal velar movement on phonation were observed in 14 of 15 (93%) patients who exhibited objective documentation of aspiration with videofluoroscopy. Conversely, 19 of 20 (95%) patients without a gag reflex were observed with videofluoroscopy to be without aspiration. Normal velar movement on phonation was observed in 99 of 100 (99%) patients. There was no significant age difference between patients with or without a gag reflex. No relationship was found between the prevalence of aspiration and the gag reflex or velar movement on phonation. It was concluded that the presence of a gag reflex does not protect against aspiration, and the absence of a gag reflex does not predict aspiration.     

反流性食管炎几种诊断方法的研究

本文对41例有典型反流性食管炎症状者,进行了内镜检查、粘膜活检、食管X线检查和核素闪烁显像综合检查.23例无反流症状者作对照.41例有反流症状组的内镜检查.均见食管粘膜有轻或中度炎症改变.病理活检的阳性率为76%,其中87%为中期食管炎.内镜检查用于观察有无食管炎症及其程度.41例均行核素闪烁显像检测,显示有反流者81%.本组病例中有31例行X线钡餐检查,显示有反流者53%.核素显像和X线钡餐用于确定有无胃食管反流,前者较后者敏感.     

Self-expanding metal stents in the palliation of malignant dysphagia: outcome analysis in 100 consecutive patients.

SUMMARY. Patients with inoperable esophageal malignancy often undergo palliative self-expanding metal stent insertion. This analysis of cases shows that although such stents provide good palliation of dysphagia, complications frequently occur. Complications reported were pain after insertion, bleeding, food bolus impaction, stent migration and increased gastroesophageal reflux. Furthermore, in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, survival was less if the distal end of the stent entered the stomach, rather than lying entirely within the esophagus. Reduced survival, in this group with gastroesophageal junction tumors, may be a result of increased gastroesophageal reflux leading to pulmonary aspiration. Stents incorporating an antireflux valve have been shown to reduce symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux. It may be that such valves offer a survival advantage where stent insertion ablates the function of the lower esophageal sphincter. Further studies are needed to assess the role of antireflux stents on survival in patients with gastroesophageal junction tumors.     

The immediate effects of cessation of cigarette smoking on gastroesophageal reflux

Cigarette smoking is thought to adversely affect gastroesophageal reflux. Eight male patients with endoscopic evidence of gastroesophageal reflux had 24-h esophageal pH monitoring while smoking at least 20 cigarettes. This was repeated while abstaining from smoking the following day. In the initial study period, 28.3% of the reflux time occurred within 20 min of smoking a cigarette. There were fewer reflux episodes in the nonsmoking period (95.7 episodes vs 70.0). The patients had significant improvement while in the upright position (57 reflux episodes vs 28.5). Yet, total reflux time was not significantly changed (pH less than 4.0 11.2% of total time smoking vs 10.1% total time nonsmoking). Immediate cessation of smoking decreases the number of daily reflux episodes, but does not significantly affect total esophageal acid exposure in symptomatic patients with endoscopic evidence of gastro-esophageal reflux disease.     

Incomplete Upper Esophageal Sphincter Relaxation: Association with Achalasia but Not Other Esophageal Motility Disorders

Incomplete upper esophageal sphincter (UES) relaxation is not well understood. We compared clinical and manometric characteristics of patients with normal and abnormal UES relaxation. Consecutive patients (n = 208) underwent manometric evaluation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), esophageal body, and UES/pharynx. The patients were divided into those with abnormal UES relaxation (residual pressure >6.7 mmHg) (n = 21) and normal relaxation (n = 187). Clinical and manometric profiles were compared. Sex, age, and presenting complaint did not correlate with UES relaxation. Normal esophageal peristaltic sequences were more frequently present in the normal UES group (73.6%) compared with the abnormal (55.8%) (p < 0.01). The UES relaxation was shorter in the group with abnormal relaxation (410.0 ms vs. 510.2 ms, p < 0.001). All other manometric parameters were not different between the two groups. When individual manometric diagnoses were analyzed, only achalasia was noted to be more common in the abnormal UES group (23.8% vs. 9.1%, p < 0.05), and a trend was noted toward diffuse esophageal spasm being more common (14.3% vs. 9.6%, not significant). We conclude that incomplete UES relaxation is a rare manometric finding, associated with achalasia and not specifically associated with any other motility disturbance. This finding may represent a secondary response to the poor esophageal emptying seen in achalasia.     

Outcomes of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy in Children

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a relatively safe and minimally invasive surgical method for providing enteral access in children. In pediatrics, the indications for PEG placement frequently include malnutrition or failure to thrive, as well as oropharyngeal dysphagia, especially in children with neurological impairment (NI). The risk for postoperative complications is low. However, among children with NI, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may necessitate fundoplication prior to gastrostomy tube placement. Preoperative pH probe testing has not been shown to be an effective screening tool prior to PEG placement among patients with GERD. Laparoscopic gastrostomy tube insertion was introduced in pediatric patients in an attempt to decrease complications associated with PEG. Although outcomes were reported to be similar to or better than PEG alone, future comparative studies are needed to better define the optimal patient demographic for this technique.     

Predictors of Outcome following Cricopharyngeal Disruption for Pharyngeal Dysphagia

The indications for, and predictors of outcome following cricopharyngeal disruption in pharyngeal dysphagia are not clearly defined. Our purpose was to examine the symptomatic response to cricopharyngeal disruption, by either myotomy or dilatation, in patients with oral-pharyngeal dysphagia and to determine pretreatment manometric or radiographic predictors of outcome. Using simultaneous pharyngeal videoradiography and manometry, we studied 20 patients with pharyngeal dysphagia prior to cricopharyngeal diltation (n = 11) or myotomy (n = 8), and 23 healthy controls. We measured peak pharyngeal pressure, hypopharyngeal intrabolus pressure, upper esophageal sphincter diameter, and coordination. Response rate to sphincter disruption was 65%. The extent of sphincter opening was significantly reduced in patients compared with controls (p= 0.004), but impaired sphincter opening was not a predictor of outcome. Increased hypopharyngeal intrabolus pressures (>19 mmHg for 10 ml bolus; >31 mmHg for 20 ml bolus) was a significant predictor of outcome (p= 0.01). Neither peak pharyngeal pressure nor incoordination were predictors of outcome. In pharyngeal dysphagia, hypopharyngeal intrabolus pressure, and not peak pharyngeal pressure, is a predictor of response to cricopharyngeal disruption. The relationship between intrabolus pressure and impaired sphincter opening is an indirect measure of sphincter compliance which helps predict therapeutic response.     

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in patients who develop pneumonia following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: A 24-hour pH monitoring study

Percutaneous endoscopic placement of feeding gastrostomies (PEG) was pioneered by Gauderer et. al. in 1980 [1]. Since then, it has become the preferred method of providing enteral nutritional support in children and adults because of advantages in morbidity and cost [2,3]. Pneumonia is a known sequel of this procedure, occurring at different rates, depending on the length of follow-up. Some series have shown an incidence of 10% at 30 days and others 56% at 11 months [4,5]. It does not appear that PEG feeding offers an advantage over the more traditional naso-enteric tube feeding methods in this respect. To study the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in PEG-fed patients, we quantitated GER by 24-hour intraesophageal pH monitoring in a group of patients who developed post-PEG pneumonia and compared it with a control group. Our study demonstrates an increased prevalence of GER in the pneumonia group compared with the control group. However, the exact contribution of this observed increased GER to the development of pneumonia needs to be determined.     

Dysphagia in Stroke: A Prospective Study of Quantitative Aspects of Swallowing in Dysphagic Patients

This is a prospective study of 100 consecutive stroke patients. Within 24 h after stroke onset they were asked specifically about swallowing complaints and subjected to a clinical examination including neurologic examination, Mini-Mental test, and Barthel score. Dysphagic patients were examined with the repetitive oral suction swallow test (the ROSS test) for quantitative evaluation of oral and pharyngeal function at 24 h, after 1 week, and after 1 month. At 6 months, the patients were interviewed about persistent dysphagia. Seventy-two patients could respond reliably at 24 h after the stroke onset and 14 of these complained of dysphagia. Non-evaluable patients were either unconscious, aphasic, or demented. The presence of dysphagia was not influenced by age or other risk factors for stroke. Facial paresis, but no other clinical findings, were associated with dysphagia. Dysphagia 24 h after stroke increased the risk of pneumonia but did not influence the length of hospital stay, the manner of discharge from hospital, or the mortality. The initial ROSS test, during which the seated patient ingests water through a straw, was abnormal in all dysphagic stroke patients. One-third of the patients were unable to perform the test completely. Above all, dysfunction was disclosed during forced, repetitive swallow. All phases of the ingestion cycle were prolonged whereas the suction pressures, bolus volumes, and swallowing capacities were low. Abnormalities of quantitative swallowing variables decreased with time whereas the prevalences of swallowing incoordination and abnormal feeding-respiratory pattern became more frequent. After 6 months, 7 patients had persistent dysphagia. Five of these were initially non-evaluable because of unconsciousness, aphasia, or dementia.     

Experiences with the Montgomery Salivary Bypass Tube (MSBT)

Patients with hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal strictures and fistulas caused by advanced malignancy, ingestion of caustic material, or following surgery or radiation therapy often suffer from marked dysphagia. In such cases the implantation of a Montgomery Salivary Bypass Tube (MSBT) can be an effective therapeutic option to bridge the fistulous tract or bypass a stenosis. Being able to eat and drink without the need for intravenous supplementation or nasogastric or gastrostomy tube feeding in general greatly improves the patient's quality of life. Since 1981 we have successfully inserted the MSBT in 44 cases suffering from dysphagia of different etiology. Our experiences with the indications for implantation, insertion techniques, and postoperative results are presented. Three selected cases of progressive dysphagia in which the MSBT is demonstrated to be the treatment of choice are described in more detail. In one case, a tracheoesophageal fistula and in another a stricture of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) were bypassed so that oral intake of soft food became possible again. The third patient suffered from a disturbance of the esophageal motility after resection of a Hippel-Lindau tumor in the spinal cord and syringe drainage; even swallowing saliva was impeded. After insertion of a MSBT, uncomplicated soft food intake became possible again.     

19例胃食管反流病患者根除幽门螺杆菌后食管酸反流的变化

目的：在胃食管反流病(GRED)患者根除幽门螺杆菌(Hp)是否会加重胃食管反流目前存在很大争议。本研究将采用食管内24h pH监测及食管测压检查的方法，定量观察GERD患者根除Hp治疗前后食管酸暴露及食管动力的变化。方法：连续选取我院门诊就诊的Hp阳性GERD患者。Hp感染诊断依据RUT和UBT或UBT和血清学检查。所有入选对象均在内镜检查后1～3d内行食管内24h pH监测和食管测压检查，同时评估反流症状。给予1周三联根除Hp治疗(奥美拉唑20mg，克拉霉素0．25g，阿莫仙1．0g，均bid)。疗程结束3个月后^14C—UBT检查，证实Hp根除者复查食管内24h pH监测和食管测压，同时重新评估反流症状。随访期间不用抑酸剂及促动力剂。结果：共23例Hp阳性GERD患者入选了本研究，其中19例患者完成了根除Hp前后的对比研究。在入选时有6例患者内镜下表现符合反流性食管炎，24h食管内pH监测提示病理性反流者10例。在确定根除Hp3个月后反酸、腹痛症状明显改善，食管24h pH监测各项参数与根除前相比均无显著性差异。LESP根除前10mm Hg(7．7—15．9)，根除后15mm Hg(10—20．6)，前后相比有显著性差异。食管体蠕动无明显改变。结论：本研究在GERD患者根除Hp3个月后反流症状有改善，食管酸暴露情况无明显变化，LESP较根除前增高，提示在GERD患者根除Hp有可能改善胃食管反流症状。     

Esophageal Manometric Abnormalities in Parkinson's Disease

The gastrointestinal tract, and especially the esophagus, is frequently involved in neurological diseases; however, objective studies of gut motor function are few. We carried out an esophageal manometric study in 18 patients with various stages of Parkinson's disease (4 stage I, 4 stage II, 7 stage III, and 3 stage IV) to evaluate the function of the viscus in this disease. Clinical assessment showed that 61% complained of esophageal symptoms such as dysphagia, acid regurgitation, pyrosis, and noncardiac chest pain. Manometric abnormalities were documented also in 61% patients, and were represented by repetitive contractions, simultaneous contractions, reduced LES pressure, and high-amplitude contractions. However, only 33.3% of patients had both symptoms and manometric abnormalities. We conclude that esophageal motor abnormalities are frequent in Parkinson's disease, and may appear at an early stage of the disease.     

Esophageal Histology Does Not Provide Additional Useful Information Over Clinical Assessment in Identifying Reflux Patients Presenting for Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

We prospectively evaluated the value of histology in identifying gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in consecutive patients enrolled for upper endoscopy. GERD was defined as heartburn occurring at least weekly. Macroscopic esophagitis was graded and an esophageal biopsy was taken 2 cm above the gastroesophageal junction. Histological esophagitis was identified by: (1) basal cell hyperplasia >15%, (2) increased papillary length >66%, and (3) infiltration by leukocytes/eosinophils. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value of histological esophagitis in patients with and without typical reflux symptoms, with and without endoscopic changes, or both were evaluated. Of 178 patients, reflux symptoms were present in 59% (N = 105) and esophageal erosions in 19% (N = 34); 75 patients had reflux symptoms but no erosions. While the specificity of histology was adequate (78%), it was insensitive (30%). The positive and negative predictive values were 67% and 44%, respectively. No single individual parameter was better than any other. Thus, histology appears to be of no additional value in identifying GERD.     

Effect of a One-Way Tracheotomy Speaking Valve on the Incidence of Aspiration in Previously Aspirating Patients with Tracheotomy

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the incidence of aspiration in previously aspirating patients with tracheotomy after use of a one-way tracheotomy tube speaking valve. Twenty consecutive inpatients from the acute care setting of a large urban tertiary care teaching hospital were included. All subjects had objective documentation of aspiration by a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing prior to placement of a one-way tracheotomy speaking valve, from 2 to 7 days of valve use with intelligible speech production, and no surgery to the upper aerodigestive tract except tracheotomy. Results indicated that incidence of aspiration was not affected by use of a one-way tracheotomy speaking valve. These results are in agreement with previous observations that subjects either aspirated or swallowed successfully regardless of tracheotomy tube occlusion status. Also, no significant differences were found between aspiration status and time since tracheotomy, time off ventilator, or duration of valve use. It was concluded that use of a one-way speaking valve provided mostly nondeglutitive benefits and should not be considered to promote successful swallowing for patients with tracheotomy in the acute care setting.