Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2020.
World J Clin Cases. Feb 26, 2020; 8(4): 723-735
Published online Feb 26, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i4.723
Table 1 Demographic characteristics and symptom profiles of subjects based on upper esophageal sphincter parameters
UES abnormal
UES normal
P value
(n = 246) [n (%)](n = 252) [n (%)]
GenderMale120 (48.78)121 (48.02)0.864
Female126 (51.22)131 (51.98)
Age (yr; mean ± SD)48.05 ± 13.2843.71 ± 12.180.002b
Dysphagia12 (4.88)18 (7.14)0.314
Heartburn83 (33.74)95 (37.70)0.301
Abdominal pain62 (25.20)62 (24.60)0.826
Chest pain40 (16.26)65 (25.79)0.040a
Sour regurgitation138 (56.10)147 (58.33)0.357
Ructus119 (48.37)131 (51.98)0.237
Cough23 (9.35)14 (5.56)0.051
Hiccup18 (7.32)25 (9.92)0.460
Globus hystericus88 (35.77)99 (39.29)0.360
Others106 (43.09)108 (42.86)0.590
Table 2 High-resolution esophageal manometry diagnoses based on the presence of upper esophageal sphincter abnormalities
UES abnormal
UES normal
P value
(n = 246) [n (%)](n = 252) [n (%)]
Mean DCI (mmHg/s/cm; mean ± SD)1062.20 ± 873.251125.02 ± 887.870.281
Failed swallow106 (45.3)116 (43.9)0.761
Panesophageal pressurization27 (11.5)26 (9.8)0.542
Early contraction36 (15.4)36 (13.6)0.580
Rapid contraction29 (12.4)28 (10.6)0.532
Small-break145 (62)142 (53.8)0.066
Large-break37 (15.8)49 (18.6)0.418
Achalasia13 (5.28)5 (1.98)0.049a
Type I0 (0.00)0 (0.00)-
Type II13 (5.28)4 (1.59)0.023a
Type III0 (0.00)1 (0.40)0.323
EGJ outflow obstruction19 (7.72)27 (10.71)0.238
Contraction vigorFailed16 (6.50)10 (3.97)0.096
Weak56 (22.76)43 (17.06)
Normal174 (70.73)199 (78.97)
Distal esophageal spasm4 (1.63)2 (0.79)0.447
Hypercontractile esophagus0 (0.00)1 (0.40)1.000
Ineffective esophageal motility41 (16.67)23 (9.13)0.012a
Fragmented contraction23 (9.35)32 (12.70)0.233
Table 3 Upper esophageal sphincter abnormality subtypes based on high-resolution esophageal manometry diagnosis
UES abnormality subtypes [n (%)]
Hypertensive alone (n = 27)Hypotensive alone (n = 42)Impaired relaxation alone (n = 130)Hypertensive with impaired relaxation (n = 15)Hypotensive with impaired relaxation (n = 32)P value
GenderMale15 (55.56)19 (45.24)65 (50.00)7 (46.67)14 (43.75)0.889
Female12 (44.44)23 (54.76)65 (50.00)8 (53.33)18 (56.25)
Age (yr; mean ± SD)42.81±11.1150.79±12.4347.35±13.5142.53±10.9154.31±13.490.003b
HREM results
Achalasia0 (0.00)1 (2.38)5 (3.85)3 (20.00)3 (9.38)0.027a
EGJ outflow obstruction2 (7.41)3 (7.14)10 (7.69)2 (13.33)2 (6.25)0.967
Contraction vigorFailed0 (0.00)4 (9.52)8 (6.15)1 (6.67)3 (9.38)0.449
Weak10 (37.04)9 (21.43)29 (22.31)4 (26.67)4 (12.50)
Normal17 (62.96)29 (69.05)93 (71.54)10 (66.67)25 (78.13)
Distal esophageal spasm0 (0.00)0 (0.00)3 (2.31)0 (0.00)1 (3.23)0.82
Hypercontractile esophagus0 (0.00)0 (0.00)0 (0.00)0 (0.00)0 (0.00)-
Ineffective esophageal motility3 (11.11)9 (21.43)21 (16.15)5 (33.33)3 (9.38)0.256
Fragmented contraction3 (11.11)8 (19.05)4 (3.08)1 (6.67)7 (21.88)0.001b
Symptoms
Dysphagia2 (7.41)2 (4.76)5 (3.85)0 (0.00)3 (9.38)0.649
Heartburn11 (40.74)16 (38.10)36 (27.69)3 (20.00)17 (53.13)0.045a
Abdominal pain6 (22.22)12 (28.57)38 (29.23)7 (46.67)9 (28.13)0.595
Chest pain2 (7.41)8 (19.05)19 (14.62)2 (13.33)9 (28.13)0.183
Sour regurgitation14 (51.85)27 (64.29)72 (55.38)6 (40.00)19 (59.38)0.308
Ructus16 (59.26)16 (38.10)66 (50.77)8 (53.33)13 (40.63)0.088
Cough3 (11.11)8 (19.05)7 (5.38)1 (6.67)4 (12.50)0.383
Hiccup1 (3.70)5 (11.90)11 (8.46)0 (0.00)1 (3.23)0.241
Globus hystericus6 (22.22)15 (35.71)49 (37.69)5 (33.33)13 (40.63)0.238
Others14 (51.85)18 (42.86)52 (40.00)6 (40.00)16 (50.00)0.468
Table 4 Comparisons between upper esophageal sphincter abnormal and upper esophageal sphincter normal patients in the lower esophageal sphincter normal group
UES abnormal (n = 101) [n (%)]UES normal (n = 109) [n (%)]P value
GenderMale55 (54.46)56 (51.38)0.656
Female46 (45.54)53 (48.62)
Age (yr; mean ± SD)47.35 ± 13.4042.82 ± 12.080.011a
HREM results
Mean DCI (mmHg/s/cm; mean ± SD)938.30 ± 712.85977.91 ± 728.410.691
Failed swallow44 (43.56)48 (44.04)0.945
Panesophageal pressurization0 (0.00)0 (0.00)-
Early contraction15 (14.85)15 (13.76)0.822
Rapid contraction11 (10.89)9 (8.26)0.517
Small-break69 (68.32)66 (60.55)0.242
Large-break17 (16.83)24 (22.02)0.345
Achalasia0 (0.00)0 (0.00)-
EGJ outflow obstruction0 (0.00)0 (0.00)-
Distal esophageal spasm4 (3.96)2 (1.83)0.357
Hypercontractile esophagus0 (0.00)0 (0.00)-
Fragmented contraction13 (12.87)21 (19.27)0.210
Normal contraction76 (75.25)79 (72.48)0.428
Weak contraction12 (11.88)9 (8.26)0.383
Failed contraction2 (1.98)3 (2.75)0.518
Symptoms
Dysphagia1 (0.99)9 (8.26)0.014a
Heartburn35 (34.65)42 (38.53)0.561
Abdominal pain30 (29.70)35 (32.11)0.707
Chest pain17 (16.83)28 (25.69)0.119
Sour regurgitation60 (59.41)61 (55.96)0.615
Ructus46 (45.54)46 (42.20)0.627
Cough9 (8.91)6 (5.50)0.339
Hiccup8 (7.92)11 (10.09)0.585
Globus hystericus33 (32.67)41 (37.61)0.455
Others46 (45.54)47 (43.12)0.724
Table 5 Comparisons between upper esophageal sphincter abnormal and upper esophageal sphincter normal patients in the lower esophageal sphincter abnormal group
UES abnormal (n = 133) [n (%)]UES normal (n = 155) [n (%)]P value
GenderMale57 (42.86)69 (44.52)0.778
Female76 (57.14)86 (55.48)
Age (yr; mean ± SD)47.74 ± 12.9444.99 ± 12.200.064
HREM results
Mean DCI (mmHg/s/cm; mean ± SD)1099.10 ± 1019.931137.84 ± 1030.130.750
Failed swallow62 (46.62)68 (43.87)0.641
Panesophageal pressurization21 (15.79)18 (11.61)0.303
Early contraction21 (15.79)21 (13.55)0.592
Rapid contraction18 (13.53)19 (12.26)0.747
Small-break76 (57.14)76 (49.03)0.170
Large-break20 (15.04)25 (16.13)0.800
Achalasia13 (9.77)5 (3.23)0.022a
Type I0 (0.00)0 (0.00)-
Type II13 (9.77)4 (2.58)0.010a
Type III0 (0.00)1 (0.65)0.354
Distal esophageal spasm1 (0.80)0 (0.00)0.280
Hypercontractile esophagus0 (0.00)1 (0.65)0.354
Fragmented contraction2 (7.14)22 (14.19)0.728
Normal contraction17 (12.78)119 (76.77)0.189
Weak contraction12 (9.02)9 (5.81)0.296
Failed contraction13 (9.77)12 (7.74)0.542
Symptoms
Dysphagia10 (7.52)9 (5.81)0.560
Heartburn42 (31.58)57 (36.77)0.380
Abdominal pain35 (25.32)41 (26.45)0.990
Chest pain23 (14.84)37 (23.87)0.171
Sour regurgitation66 (42.58)92 (59.35)0.099
Ructus63 (40.65)91 (58.71)0.055
Cough13 (8.39)7 (4.52)0.081
Hiccup9 (5.81)13 (8.39)0.606
Globus hystericus49 (31.61)62 (40.00)0.584
Others58 (43.61)64 (41.29)0.692
Table 6 Comparisons of high-resolution esophageal manometry results between pretreatment and posttreatment
HREM resultsPretreatmentPosttreatmentP value
UES restP (mmHg; mean ± SD)68.08 ± 47.9048.75 ± 27.300.674
UES RP (mmHg; mean ± SD)11.18 ± 7.935.35 ± 4.770.036a
LES restP (mmHg; mean ± SD)41.91± 9.2026.18 ± 13.080.017a
LES IRP (mmHg; mean ± SD)38.94 ± 10.2816.71 ± 5.650.012a
Failed swallow [n (%)]8 (100.00)8 (100.00)1.000
Panesophageal pressurization [n (%)]8 (100.00)3 (37.50)0.038a
Early contraction [n (%)]1 (12.50)1 (12.50)1.000
Rapid contraction [n (%)]1 (12.50)0 (0.00)0.721
Small-break [n (%)]0 (0.00)1 (12.50)0.721
Large-break [n (%)]0 (0.00)1 (12.50)0.721
Table 7 Mixed analysis of lower esophageal sphincter mean resting pressure, lower esophageal sphincter integrated relaxation pressure, and upper esophageal sphincter residual pressure
Dependent variableIndependent variableBeta coefficientSEP value
LES restPIntercept48.3013.130.021a
Treatment stage1-15.753.740.004b
Gender25.649.780.595
Age-0.070.380.860
LES IRPIntercept34.535.00<0.001c
Treatment stage-22.233.18<0.001c
Gender-11.592.560.011a
Age-0.060.100.590
UES RPIntercept6.045.400.309
Treatment stage-5.821.890.018a
Gender-6.113.650.169
Age0.040.140.808
Table 8 Treatment improvement in subjects with type II achalasia based on upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction
Treatment improvementUES abnormalUES normalP value
Favorable16.67%100.00%0.049a
Poor83.33%0.00%