Oesophageal Peristalsis

Abstract

Peak oesophageal peristaltic pressure amplitude was recorded in 8 healthy subjects at points 5 and 15 cm proximal to the gastro-oesophageal sphincter, by using an in situ tip-transducer simultaneously with a continuous flush (Intraflo®) perfused catheter system with external pressure transducer. Dry swallows and wet swallows of 2.5, 5 and 10 ml, respectively, were made in random succession. In all cases the pressures recorded by either system correlated well. In all cases the peristaltic pressure amplitude was significantly higher after the wet swallows. The difference in bolus volumes did not influence the peristaltic pressure amplitude. The catheter and flow system used in this study is simple and makes recording of peristaltic pressures independent of the shape of the in situ transducer, and its therefore well suited for measuring the amplitude of oesophageal contractions.