High‐resolution esophageal pressure topography is superior to conventional sleeve manometry for the detection of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations associated with a reflux event

Background Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESRs) are the main mechanism underlying gastro‐esophageal reflux and are detected during manometric studies using well defined criteria. Recently, high‐resolution esophageal pressure topography (HREPT) has been introduced and is now considered as the new standard to study esophageal and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function. In this study we performed a head‐to‐head comparison between HREPT and conventional sleeve manometry for the detection of TLESRs. Methods A setup with two synchronized MMS‐solar systems was used. A solid state HREPT catheter, a water‐perfused sleeve catheter, and a multi intraluminal impedance pH (MII‐pH) catheter were introduced in 10 healthy volunteers (M6F4, age 19–56). Subjects were studied 0.5 h before and 3 h after ingestion of a standardized meal. Tracings were blinded and analyzed by the three authors according to the TLESR criteria. Key Results In the HREPT mode 156 TLESRs were scored, vs 143 during sleeve manometry (P = 0.10). Hundred and twenty‐three TLESRs were scored by both techniques. Of all TLESRs (177), 138 were associated with reflux (78%). High‐resolution esophageal pressure topography detected significantly more TLESRs associated with a reflux event (132 vs 119, P = 0.015) resulting in a sensitivity for detection of TLESRs with reflux of 96% compared to 86% respectively. Analysis of the discordant TLESRs associated with reflux showed that TLESRs were missed by sleeve manometry due to low basal LES pressure (N = 5), unstable pharyngeal signal (N = 4), and residual sleeve pressure >2 mmHg (N = 10). Conclusions & Inferences The HREPT is superior to sleeve manometry for the detection of TLESRs associated with reflux. However, rigid HREPT criteria are awaited.