Ineffective Esophageal Motility: Is It a Transient Manometric Finding?

Kim, Juhyung; Hwang, Jin Ki; Choi, Woo Seok; Lee, Beom Jae; Park, Jong Jae; Kim, Jae Seon; Bak, Young Tae

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) is the most commonly found manometric abnormality in manometry laboratory, and most cases of nonspecific esophageal motility disorder belong to this diagnosis. The clinical significance of IEM remains unclear, but much part of this entity is still need to be explored. The clinical course of IEM is not known clearly, and whether it will persist, resolve, or convert to other motility disorders is still unrevealed. To elucidate the short and long term clinical course of IEM, the cases with IEM were followed up with esophageal manometry.
METHODS
In 65 cases (M:F 27:38 cases, age 44.6+/-11.6 years) with manometrically diagnosed IEM, esophageal manometry was repeated after a median period of 15 (range 2-89) months.
RESULTS
Follow up study revealed that 38 cases (58%) still had IEM at the second study, and 27 cases (42%) became to belong to normal range of criteria. Among these 27 cases diagnosed as normal at the second study, ineffective contractions constituted 30% of total swallows in 11 cases (41%).
CONCLUSIONS
This observation suggests that IEM is a persistent esophageal motility disorder at least in more than half of cases throughout months or years after initial diagnosis.