Effects of lidocaine on esophageal secondary peristalsis in humans

Background Secondary peristalsis is important for the clearance of retained food bolus or refluxate from the esophagus. Lidocaine has been used to evaluate the role of mucosa‐mediating pathways of esophageal reflexes in animal model, but its effects on esophageal secondary peristalsis are yet unclear in humans. We aimed to investigate whether esophageal secondary peristalsis can be affected by intraluminal infusion of lidocaine into the esophagus. Methods After a baseline recording esophageal motility, secondary peristalsis was generated by slow and rapid mid‐esophageal injections of air in 13 healthy subjects. Two separate sessions with saline and lidocaine were randomly performed to test their effects on esophageal secondary peristalsis by mid‐esophageal air distension. Key Results Secondary peristalsis can be induced by slow or rapid air infusion. Secondary peristalsis was triggered less frequently in response to rapid air distension after lidocaine infusion (P = 0.001). After lidocaine infusion, the threshold volume to generate secondary peristalsis was significantly increased during rapid (P = 0.001), but not slow air infusions (P = NS). Infusion of lidocaine or saline did not affect pressure wave amplitude or duration during rapid and slow air infusions (P = NS). Conclusions & Inferences We have demonstrated selectively inhibitory effect of lidocaine on the triggering of esophageal secondary peristalsis during acute gaseous esophageal distension. The data suggest that part of the activation of secondary peristalsis is probably mediated by lidocaine‐sensitive mechanoreceptors; however, the infusion of lidocaine does not lead to any motility change in secondary peristalsis induced by either slow or rapid air infusions.