Evaluation of Esophageal Motility Utilizing the Functional Lumen Imaging Probe

© 2016 by the American College of Gastroenterology. Objectives:Esophagogastric junction (EGJ) distensibility and distension-mediated peristalsis can be assessed with the functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) during a sedated upper endoscopy. We aimed to describe esophageal motility assessment using FLIP topography in patients presenting with dysphagia.Methods:In all, 145 patients (aged 18-85 years, 54% female) with dysphagia that completed up per endoscopy with a 16-cm FLIP assembly and high-resolution manometry (HRM) were included. HRM was analyzed according to the Chicago Classification of esophageal motility disorders; major esophageal motility disorders were considered "abnormal". FLIP studies were analyzed using a customized program to calculate the EGJ-distensibility index (DI) and generate FLIP topography plots to identify esophageal contractility patterns. FLIP topography was considered "abnormal" if EGJ-DI was < 2.8 mm 2 /mm Hg or contractility pattern demonstrated absent contractility or repetitive, retrograde contractions.Results:HRM was abnormal in 111 (77%) patients: 70 achalasia (19 type I, 39 type II, and 12 type III), 38 EGJ outflow obstruction, and three jackhammer esophagus. FLIP topography was abnormal in 106 (95%) of these patients, including all 70 achalasia patients. HRM was "normal" in 34 (23%) patients: five ineffective esophageal motility and 29 normal motility. In all, 17 (50%) had abnormal FLIP topography including 13 (37%) with abnormal EGJ-DI.Conclusions:FLIP topography provides a well-tolerated method for esophageal motility assessment (especially to identify achalasia) at the time of upper endoscopy. FLIP topography findings that are discordant with HRM may indicate otherwise undetected abnormalities of esophageal function, thus FLIP provides an alternative and complementary method to HRM for evaluation of non-obstructive dysphagia.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Perorale endoscopische myotomie bij achalasie

The treatment of patients with achalasia is complex due to a considerably high recurrence rate and risk of treatment-related complications. The per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a new endoscopic technique that combines the benefits of a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure with the efficacy of a surgical myotomy. Implementation of the POEM technique may lead to fewer complications, a lower recurrence rate and reduced costs. During the procedure, a myotomy of the circular muscle layer of the oesophagus is performed after creating a submucosal tunnel in the oesophagus. The first studies of this new technique show promising results. Experienced therapeutic endoscopists can learn to perform the POEM technique relatively easily. Further studies are needed to compare this technique with the current standard treatments and to evaluate long-term effect

Reflux symptoms and oesophageal acidification in treated achalasia patients are often not reflux related

Objective After treatment, achalasia patients often develop reflux symptoms. Aim of this case-control study was to investigate mechanisms underlying reflux symptoms in treated achalasia patients by analysing oesophageal function, acidification patterns and symptom perception. Design Forty treated achalasia patients (mean age 52.9 years; 27 (68%) men) were included, 20 patients with reflux symptoms (RS+; Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GORDQ) ≥8) and 20 without reflux symptoms (RS-: GORDQ <8). Patients underwent measurements of oesophagogastric junction distensibility, high-resolution manometry, timed barium oesophagogram, 24 hours pH-impedance monitoring off acid-suppression and oesophageal perception for acid perfusion and distension. Presence of oesophagitis was assessed endoscopically. Results Total acid exposure time during 24 hours pH-impedance was not significantly different between patients with (RS+) and without (RS-) reflux symptoms. In RS+ patients, acid fermentation was higher than in RS- patients (RS+: mean 6.6% (95% CI 2.96% to 10.2%) vs RS-: 1.8% (95% CI -0.45% to 4.1%, p=0.03) as well as acid reflux with delayed clearance (RS+: 6% (95% CI 0.94% to 11%) vs RS-: 3.4% (95% CI -0.34% to 7.18%), p=0.051). Reflux symptoms were not related to acid in both groups, reflected by a low Symptom Index. RS+ patients were highly hypersensitive to acid, with a much shorter time to heartburn perception (RS+: 4 (2-6) vs RS-:30 (14-30) min, p<0.001) and a much higher symptom intensity (RS+: 7 (4.8-9) vs RS-: 0.5 (0-4.5) Visual Analogue Scale, p<0.001) during acid perfusion. They also had a lower threshold for mechanical stimulation. Conclusion Reflux symptoms in treated achalasia are rarely caused by gastro-oesophageal reflux and most instances of oesophageal acidification are not reflux related. Instead, achalasia patients with post-treatment reflux symptoms demonstrate oesophageal hypersensitivity to chemical and mechanical stimuli, which may determine symptom generation

Evidence that estrogen receptors play a limited role in mediating enhanced recovery of bile flow in female rats in the acute phase of liver ischemia reperfusion injury

Introduction. Female patients exhibit better survival and less hepatic damage from ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury following surgery. However, the effects of sex and estrogens on liver function in the acute phase of IR are not well understood. Objective. The aim was to investigate this question. Material and methods. A rat model of segmental hepatic ischemia was employed. Rats were pre-treated with the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI182,780 and/or the estrogen receptor agonist 17 beta-estradiol. Bile flow, blood concentrations of bilirubin and liver enzymes were measured, and liver histology was assessed. Results. Bile flow recovery immediately after the initiation of reperfusion was faster in females than in males. ICI182,780 reduced the rate of bile flow recovery in females but this reduction was not reversed by co-administration of 17 beta-estradiol. In males, 17 beta-estradiol alone did not enhance bile flow recovery. The changes in bile flow recovery observed under a given condition were correlated with small changes in blood liver enzymes and liver histology. Conclusions. Sex has a significant influence on the early recovery of liver function in the acute phase of IR injury. However, in female rats estrogen receptors play only a limited role in mediating enhanced recovery of liver function

Evidence that estrogen receptors play a limited role in mediating enhanced recovery of bile flow in female rats in the acute phase of liver ischemia reperfusion injury

Introduction. Female patients exhibit better survival and less hepatic damage from ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury following surgery. However, the effects of sex and estrogens on liver function in the acute phase of IR are not well understood. Objective. The aim was to investigate this question. Material and methods. A rat model of segmental hepatic ischemia was employed. Rats were pre-treated with the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI182,780 and/or the estrogen receptor agonist 17 beta-estradiol. Bile flow, blood concentrations of bilirubin and liver enzymes were measured, and liver histology was assessed. Results. Bile flow recovery immediately after the initiation of reperfusion was faster in females than in males. ICI182,780 reduced the rate of bile flow recovery in females but this reduction was not reversed by co-administration of 17 beta-estradiol. In males, 17 beta-estradiol alone did not enhance bile flow recovery. The changes in bile flow recovery observed under a given condition were correlated with small changes in blood liver enzymes and liver histology. Conclusions. Sex has a significant influence on the early recovery of liver function in the acute phase of IR injury. However, in female rats estrogen receptors play only a limited role in mediating enhanced recovery of liver function.</p