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Comparison of Esophageal Motility in Patients with Solid Dysphagia and Mixed Dysphagia

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Abstract

It is unclear whether there is any difference in esophageal motor abnormalities between patients complaining of dysphagia for solids or both solids and liquids. The aim of this study was to determine any difference in the manometric findings between patients with dysphagia for solids and those with mixed dysphagia. Manometric tracings were performed in 200 consecutive patients (66M, 134F; mean age = 51 years) with nonobstructive dysphagia. Ambulatory pH studies were performed in all patients. Subjects were divided into two groups: patients with solid dysphagia (n = 94, 33M, 61 F; mean age = 51 years) and those with mixed dysphagia (n = 106, 33M, 73F; mean age = 51 years). A normal motility study was the most frequent finding. Achalasia occurred more frequently in patients with mixed dysphagia than in those with solid dysphagia (12% vs. 3%, p < 0.01). Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was observed in 59% of patients with solid dysphagia compared with 29% of patients with mixed dysphagia (p < 0.02). The most common esophageal motility abnormality is nonspecific esophageal motility disorders. This study has shown that abnormal esophageal motility occurs slightly more in mixed dysphagia than solid dysphagia. The clinical utility of a symptomatic differentiation of patients with solid or mixed dyphagia appears to be limited.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital and University School of Medicine, Hualien, Taiwan

    Chien-Lin Chen MD

  2. Lynn Institute for Healthcare Research, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

    William C. Orr PhD

  3. Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital and University School of Medicine, 707, Sec. 3, Chung-Yang Rd., Hualien 970, Taiwan

    Chien-Lin Chen MD

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  1. Chien-Lin Chen MD
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  2. William C. Orr PhD
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Correspondence to Chien-Lin Chen MD.

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Chen, CL., Orr, W.C. Comparison of Esophageal Motility in Patients with Solid Dysphagia and Mixed Dysphagia. Dysphagia 20, 261–265 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-005-0022-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-005-0022-0

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