ORIGINAL PAPERS

 

How useful is esophageal high resolution manometry in diagnosing gastroesophageal junction disruption: Causes affecting this disruption and its relationship with manometric alterations and gastroesophageal reflux

Utilidad de la manometría de alta resolución en el diagnóstico de la disrupción de la unión gastroesofágica: causas que influyen en su disrupción y asociación con reflujo gastroesofágico y alteraciones manométricas

 

 

Constanza Ciriza-de-los-Ríos¹, Fernando Canga-Rodríguez-Valcárcel¹, Isabel Castel-de-Lucas¹, David Lora-Pablos², Javier de-la-Cruz-Bértolo² and Gregorio Castellano-Tortajada¹

¹Department of Gastroenterology. Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre. Madrid, Spain
²Clinical Research Unit, IMAS12-CIBERESP. Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre. Madrid, Spain

Correspondence

 

 

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ABSTRACT

Background: High-resolution manometry (HRM) is a breakthrough in the morphological study of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) and its degrees of disruption.
Objectives: a) Assessment of risk factors involved in the disruption of the GEJ in patients with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) symptoms; b) the relationship between the type of GEJ and GER demonstrated by 24 hours pH-monitoring; and c) identification of the alterations in the manometric parameters related to the morphology of the GEJ.
Methods: One hundred and fifteen patients with symptoms of GER studied with HRM and classified by the type of GEJ (type I: Normal; type II: Sliding; type III: Hiatal hernia). Twenty four hour pH-monitoring without proton pump inhibitors was performed in all of them. Epidemiological aspects, manometric parameters (Chicago 2012 classification) and the pH-monitoring results were evaluated.
Results: Age (OR 1.033 [1.006-1.060]; p = 0.16), BMI (OR 1.097 [1.022-1.176]; p = 0. 01) and abdominal perimeter (OR 1.034 [1.005-1.063]; p = 0.0215) were independent risk factors for the GEJ type III (area under the curve 0.70). Disruption of the GEJ was associated with a lower resting pressure (p = 0.006), greater length (p < 0.001) and greater esophageal shortening (p < 0.001). Abnormal acidic reflux was found in the total period (p = 0.015), standing (p = 0.022) and supine (p = 0.001) in patients with GEJ type II and III with respect to type I.
Conclusions: Increased age, overweight and central obesity pose a higher risk of GEJ type III (hiatal hernia). The greater disruption of the GEJ is associated with lower resting pressure, esophageal shortening, and higher acid exposure in the pH-monitoring.

Key words: Esophageal high resolution manometry. Gastroesophageal junction. Hiatal hernia. Gastroesophageal reflux.

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RESUMEN

Introducción: la manometría de alta resolución (MAR) constituye un gran avance en el estudio morfológico de la unión gastroesofágica (UGE) y en sus grados de disrupción.
Objetivos: a) valoración factores de riesgo implicados en la disrupción de la UGE en pacientes con síntomas de reflujo gastroesofágico (RGE); b) la relación entre el tipo de UGE y RGE demostrado por pH-metría; y c) identificación de las alteraciones en los parámetros manométricos vinculados a la morfología de la UGE.
Métodos: 115 pacientes con síntomas de RGE, estudiados con MAR y clasificados por el tipo de UGE (tipo I o normal; tipo II o deslizamiento; tipo III o hernia de hiato). En todos ellos se realizó pH-metría de 24 horas sin inhibidores de la bomba de protones. Se evaluaron aspectos epidemiológicos, parámetros manométricos (clasificación de Chicago 2012) y resultados de la pH-metría.
Resultados: la edad (OR 1,033 [1,006-1,060]; p = 0,016), IMC (OR 1,097 [1,022-1,176]; p = 0,01) y perímetro abdominal (OR 1,034 [1,005-1,063]; p = 0,0215) fueron factores de riesgo independientes para la UGE tipo III (área bajo la curva 0,70). La disrupción de la UGE se asoció con una menor presión de reposo (p = 0,006), mayor longitud de la misma (p < 0,001) y mayor acortamiento esofágico (p < 0,001). Se encontró RGE patológico en el periodo total (p = 0,015), en bipedestación (p = 0,022) y supino (p = 0,001) en el canal distal en los pacientes con UGE tipo II y III respecto al tipo I.
Conclusiones: la mayor edad, el sobrepeso y la obesidad central suponen mayor riesgo de desarrollar UGE tipo III (hernia de hiato). La mayor disrupción de la UGE se asocia con menor presión de reposo, mayor acortamiento esofágico y mayor exposición ácida en la pH-metría.

Palabras clave: Manometría esofágica de alta resolución. Unión gastroesofágica. Hernia de hiato. Reflujo gastroesofágico.

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Introduction

The gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) is a complex structure that regulates, in a coordinated manner, the passage of food to the stomach and prevents the retrograde movement of gastric content that is potentially harmful to the esophagus.

The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is not only a thickening of the circular smooth muscle layer, but it also features other muscles with different physiological characteristics. Thus, the intrinsic musculature of the GEJ is formed by semicircular smooth muscle fibers with a constant myogenic tone (mediated by the myenteric plexus) and gastric sling fibers on its left side portion, with low basal tone although they contract with cholinergic stimulation (1). Whereas the extrinsic muscles that are composed of the crural diaphragm (CD), embracing the LES, increases the pressure on the GEJ during inspiration (2). Under normal circumstances, the esophagus is anchored to the diaphragm in a way that prevents displacement of the stomach through the diaphragmatic hiatus towards the mediastinum. The main restraining structures are the phrenoesophageal ligaments also known as phrenoesophageal membrane. In addition to its role in maintaining the fixation of the esophagogastric region to the diaphragm, the phrenoesophageal membrane also closes the virtual space between the esophagus and diaphragm, making it a key structure in the pathogenesis of the hiatal hernia. With age, elastic tissue of the phrenoesophageal membrane decreases progressively, increasing its laxity and favoring the disruption of the GEJ (3). This causes, to a greater or lesser extent, the separation of the LES and the DC, leading to the ultimate expression of this phenomenon as the hiatal hernia. This separation reduces the competence of the gastroesophageal barrier favoring gastroesphageal reflux (GER) (4) and also causes the alteration of esophageal motility (5).

High resolution manometry (HRM) is useful for the correct identification and detection of the different degrees of disruption of the GEJ (6-8). Three subtypes of GEJ are identified according to their morphology and extent of disruption from a manometric point of view (9).

The objectives of this study were: a) Rating the risk factors involved in the disruption of the GEJ in patients with GER; b) identifying the relationship between the type of GEJ and GER demonstrated by 24 hours pH-monitoring; and c) identification of the alterations in the manometric parameters related to the morphology of the GEJ.

 

Material and methods

Patients and inclusion criteria

This is a transversal and observational study from January 2012 to February 2013. During this period, 155 patients with typical and atypical GER symptoms were prospectively included.

Inclusion criteria were: a) Informed consent obtained; b) minimum age of 18 years; c) exclusion of organicity by barium esophagogram study or upper endoscopy; and d) completion of GER symptoms questionnaire.

The patient's symptoms were recorded using a standard questionnaire, considering typical GER symptoms such as the presence of heartburn or regurgitation at least once a week. GER atypical symptoms that were included were: a) Atypical ear nose and throat (ENT): Dysphonia and pharyngeal globus, defined as a feeling of pharyngeal foreign body with a frequency of at least once a week; b) pulmonary: Frequent chronic cough (at least 4 times a day, 4 days or more per week); and c) non cardiac chest pain defined as retrosternal pain different from heartburn with a frequency of at least once a week.

Exclusion criteria were: a) Patients referring esophageal dysphagia with concomitant symptoms of reflux, as the correlation between esophageal motor disorder and symptoms of reflux are not very consistent (10); b) previous surgical or endoscopic treatments on the GEJ; and c) patients that refused to sign the informed consent.

With these criteria 30 patients with esophageal dysphagia and 10 patients who had undergone treatments on the GEJ were excluded, so the final number of patients included in the study was 115.

The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre.

Protocol for esophageal high-resolution manometry

HRM was performed by using a solid-state manometric assembly with 36 circumferential sensors spaced at 1-cm intervals and outer diameter of 4.2 mm (Given Scientific Instruments Inc, Los Angeles, CA, USA). Prior to recording, the transducers were calibrated at 0 and 300 mm Hg using externally applied pressure. After confirmation of potential allergies, topical viscous lidocaine 5 ‰ was applied to numb the nares followed by tans-nasal catheter insertion.

Manometric studies were performed on basal conditions (after withholding medication known to affect gastrointestinal function) and in supine, obtaining a simultaneous recording from the hypopharynx to the stomach with at least three intragastric sensors. After 5 minutes the patient became accustomed to the probe, the recording started with a 30-s basal period without swallowing to obtain the upper esophageal sphincter and GEJ pressures followed by ten 5-mL swallows at 20 second intervals (11), rejecting those swallows in which the patient swallowed twice or the interval between swallows was less than 20 seconds, to finally obtain ten swallows interpretable for the analysis (12).

24 hour pH-monitoring protocol

Double channel 24-hour ambulatory pH-monitoring without proton pump inhibitors (PPI) treatment was performed with a two channels catheter that were placed 5 cm and 20 cm respectively, above the upper limit of the GEJ. The study catheter was attached to an ambulatory recorder (Matla Systems Inc, Madrid, Spain). The patients were encouraged to maintain normal activity, sleep schedule, and their dietary routine at their normal times. A diary was provided for each patient to record the time and duration of meals, posture changes and symptoms.

Data analysis

The following epidemiological and clinical data were obtained: a) Demographics: Age, sex, weight and height to calculate the body mass index (BMI), abdominal perimeter length; c) life habits: Tobacco, alcohol and coffee intake; c) medical history; d) prior consumption of PPI; and e) symptoms of GER.

Manometric data were analyzed using Mano View^TM software version 3.0 (Given Scientific Instruments Inc. The Angeles, CA, USA). The GEJ were classified into type I (CD is completely overlapped with LES), type II (sliding: Separation of 1-2 cm between CD and LES) and type III (hiatal hernia: Separation between CD and LES exceeds 2 cm) (9) (Fig. 1). The separation between the LES and the CD was measured at the inspiratory peak. End expiratory EGJ pressure was measured during the basal period with the absence of swallowing, and then referenced to the intra-gastric pressure. The cases with large hiatal hernias in which the CD pressure mark was not identified, the reference used was atmospheric pressure using the "smart mouse" tool provided by the software Mano View^TM version 3.0. Integrated relaxation pressure within 4 seconds (IRP-4s) was measured using automated analysis tool with the same software, defined as the lowest average residual pressure for 4 contiguous or non contiguous seconds within the post swallow period during 10 swallows. IRP-4s normal value has been defined as less than 15 mm Hg in supine (6).

 

 

The following manometric parameters were evaluated: a) LES: Mean basal and IRP-4s, total, intra-abdominal and intra thoracic length GEJ length. In GEJ type III, the length of the LES, CD and hernia sac were measured; and b) esophageal body (EB): Length, percentage of peristaltic, simultaneous, failed and premature contractions, mean distal contractile integral (DCI), contractile front velocity (CFV), intrabolus pressure (IBP) and distal latency (DL).

Two experienced investigators performed HRM and analyzed the HRM plots obtained for each patient. With the parameters obtained from them a final diagnosis of LES, EGJ morphology and EB was provided according to the diagnostic criteria proposed by the Chicago group (2012 classification) (13).

LES diagnosis was divided into four groups for analysis as normal, hypotensive, hypertensive and GEJ functional obstruction. Hypotensive LES was considered when resting LES pressure was < 10 mm Hg and normal IRP-4s (< 15 mm Hg) and hypertensive when LES resting pressure was > 35 mm Hg and normal IRP-4s. Functional obstruction was considered when IRP-4s > 15 mm Hg in supine.

The subgroups for weak peristalsis that included small and large peristaltic breaks and frequent failed peristalsis were considered together for analysis purposes.

Data obtained from the pH monitoring were: Percentage of time pH < 4 total period; percentage of time pH < 4 in the upright position; percentage of time pH < 4 in the supine position, in both distal and proximal channels; DeMeester score and the symptomatic index. For the analysis, the normal values reported by DeMeester were used (14). The symptomatic index was used to correlate the symptoms and the episodes of reflux, requiring at least 5 symptomatic episodes for analysis and it was considered positive if ≥ 50 %.

Statistical analysis

Descriptive analyses of the qualitative and quantitative variables mentioned, were performed. Qualitative variables were described using absolute frequency and percentages, while quantitative variables were expressed as mean and confidence interval (CI) 9 %.

For comparisons of quantitative variables according to the GEJ type the Kruskal-Wallis test was used for independent data. When statistical significance was achieved, the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare pairs correcting the p-value. For categorical variables the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, when appropriate, were applied. Using ordinal logistic regression models the clinical and epidemiological factors that might influence the hiatal hernia were estimated in a univariate form, obtaining the crude odds ratio, and in a multivariate form the odds ratio adjusted for each of the variables that were part of the model were obtained. Due to the relationship between BMI and abdominal perimeter, two different models were built excluding in each model one of the two variables. To assess the relationship between the length of the hernia sac, and the esophageal body a linear regression model was used. The level of significance was established at 5 %. Analyses were performed using the statistical program SPSS 18.0.

 

Results

The epidemiological and clinical characteristics according to the GEJ type are expressed in table I. The disruption of the GEJ, manifested by the separation between the LES and the CD is associated with older age (p = 0.001), overweight (p = 0.001) and central obesity (abdominal perimeter) (p = 0.003). Patients with GEJ type I had a higher frequency of atypical GER symptoms compared to patients with GEJ type II or type III where typical GER symptoms were more predominant (p = 0.054). In the univariate analysis, the older age, the higher BMI and abdominal perimeter and more comorbidity were associated with an increased risk of having GEJ type III (hiatal hernia) (Table II). In the multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for GEJ type III were older age and higher BMI (Table II), resulting in an area under the curve of 0.70. Analyzing the other multivariate model involving the abdominal perimeter, independent risk factors for GEJ type III were ageing (OR 1.035 [1.008-1.062]; p = 0.0109) and increased abdominal perimeter (OR 1.034 [1.005-1.063]; p = 0.0215), resulting in an area under the curve of 0.70.

 

 

 

The parameters of HRM and pH-monitoring depending on the type of GEJ are expressed in table 3. In six cases with GEJ type III, with a large hernia sac, the identification of the CD was not possible, so LES resting pressure was referenced to atmospheric pressure, the mean resting pressure in these cases being that of 26.1 [19.6-32.6] mm Hg. Disruption of the GEJ was associated with lower resting pressure with (p = 0.006), greater GEJ length (p < 0.001) and a further shortening of the esophagus (p < 0.001) respect to GEJ type I (Table III). In those patients with GEJ type III, the average LES length was 2.5 cm [2-2.9]; average CD length 2.1 cm [1.8-2.5] and hernia sac length 3.9 cm [2.5-5.2], noting that the increase of one unit in the length of the hernia sac decreases the length of the esophagus in 0.963 (p = 0.013) (Fig. 2).

 

 

 

GEJ type II group showed more hypotonia and GEJ type III (hiatal hernia) group a higher degree of functional obstruction (p = 0.056) compared to GEJ type I group (Fig. 3). There were no significant differences in the final diagnosis for esophageal body among the studied groups (Fig. 3).

 

 

Greater acid exposure was found at the level of the distal esophagus during total (p = 0. 015), upright (p = 0.022) and supine (p = 0.001) periods in patients with GEJ type II and III than in patients with GEJ type I (Table III), without significant differences observed in the proximal esophagus. In patients with GEJ type II and III the pH-monitoring result was frequently abnormal (Fig. 4). There were no differences in the symptomatic index between the groups (p = 0.509).

 

 

Discussion

The GEJ is a structure dependent on the close anatomical relationship between the distal esophagus, the diaphragmatic hiatus and the stomach. It is important to recognize that this relationship is not static, and a physiological "herniation" can occur during primary or secondary peristalsis, esophageal distension, and the temporary relaxation of the LES (3,15). This mobility depends on the contractile activity of esophageal longitudinal muscle and the integrity and elastic properties of the phrenoesophageal membrane (16,17). As a result, it is difficult to measure the sliding hiatal hernia, because its diagnosis is not standardized and variability in its measurement between the different methods of detection such as barium radiology, upper endoscopy and manometry exists (3,18). However, HRM allows an efficient assessment of the normal GEJ and different levels of disruption including hiatal hernia, which is important for its involvement in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (19). In our study, patients with GEJ disruption generally had typical GER symptoms compared to those with normal GEJ, so that the different types of GEJ were related to a different form of symptomatic presentation of GERD.

Both age and obesity are factors frequently involved in hiatal hernia (3,20). Our results also confirmed that ageing, overweight and central obesity are the independent risk factors for the disruption of the GEJ. Different degrees of disruption of the GEJ, especially the hiatal hernia, were found also to be associated with GER (4). In our study, patients with GEJ type II and particularly those with type III, had a greater acid exposure in the distal esophagus, especially during the night, though disruption of the GEJ did not influence the proximal extent for GER.

It has been described that the presence of a large hiatal hernia modifies the values of the measurement parameters for HRM in the body of the esophagus, so patients with large hiatal hernia have lower average LES pressures, lower DCI, slower CFV and shorter DL (5). We also confirmed these findings in the GEJ type III with respect to the other types of GEJ. These changes appear to be related to a reduced esophageal length found in these patients (5), also confirmed by this study. However, despite these variations in the manometric parameters, the final diagnosis for esophageal body was not modified which coincides with previous reports (5). However, this fact may be conditioned by the small size of our sample for GEJ type III. On the other hand, the disruption of the GEJ can decrease its resting pressure. In this sense, we found significant differences between the patients with normal GEJ, and those who had some degree of disruption as the type II group which presented more hypotonic LES. In addition, some hiatal hernias may cause outflow obstruction caused by the anatomical distortions at the GEJ (21). In our study, a higher incidence of outflow obstruction was encountered in patients with hiatal hernia compared to the other GEJ type groups. This finding could have a relationship to a certain degree of obstruction at CD level rather than an alteration of LES relaxation which has been described by other authors (21). Therefore, any alteration in the GEJ relaxation observed in large hiatal hernias may be caused to a greater extent by the anatomical distortion of the passage of the stomach to intrathoracic level (5).

Our study has some limitations, the most significant being the low number of patients with GEJ type III. This was due in part to the restrictive inclusion criteria, as we only included patients with typical or atypical GER symptoms, having excluded those who also presented with dysphagia, as longer hernias might cause this symptom.

In conclusion, ageing, overweight and central obesity were risk factors for developing GEJ disruption, finding lower resting pressure, less esophageal length and greater acid exposure in the patients with GEJ type II and III. Those with GEJ type III (hiatal hernia) showed some differences in HRM parameters in the esophageal body, though this did not modify the final diagnosis.

 

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Correspondence:
Constanza Ciriza de los Ríos
Department of Gastroenterology
Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre
Avenida de Córdoba s/n
28041 Madrid, Spain
e-mail: constanzacarpa@gmail.com

Received: 06-05-2013
Accepted: 12-11-2013