Altered oesophageal mechanosensitivity of secondary peristalsis as a pathophysiological marker in patients with globus sensation

Abstract

Objective

Secondary peristalsis is important for clearance of retained food bolus and refluxate from the oesophagus. We aimed to investigate whether patients with globus sensation have altered physiological characteristics of secondary peristalsis.

Design

Prospective case-controlled study.

Setting

Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan.

Participants

17 globus patients and 18 healthy controls.

Main outcome measures

After a baseline recording of primary peristalsis, secondary peristalsis was stimulated with slow and rapid mid-oesophageal injections of air. Distension thresholds and peristaltic activities of secondary peristalsis were analyzed and compared between the patients and healthy controls.

Results

The threshold volume for generating secondary peristalsis during slow air distension did not differ between the patient and control groups (P = 0.55). The threshold volume for generating secondary peristalsis during rapid air distension was significantly greater in patients with globus than healthy controls (7.0 ± 0.9 vs. 5.0 ± 0.3 mL, P = 0.04). Secondary peristalsis was triggered less frequently in globus patients as compared with healthy control after rapid air distension (40% [30−65%] vs. 60% [60−83%], P = 0.001). There was no difference in any of peristaltic parameters for primary and secondary peristalsis between the groups.

Conclusions

Our work identifies functional defects of oesophageal secondary peristalsis in patients with globus sensation and such defects are characterized with defective triggering of secondary peristalsis during rapid air distension. Whether current findings has therapeutic implication in the management of patients with globus sensation warrants further investigation.

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