Association of Bolus Transit Time on Barium Esophagram With Esophageal Peristalsis on High-resolution Manometry and Nonobstructive Dysphagia

Goal: The goal of this study was to correlate upright and prone bolus transit time (BTT) on barium esophagography (BE) with esophageal peristalsis on high-resolution manometry (HRM) and self-reported dysphagia in patients with normal lower esophageal sphincter parameters on HRM. Background: BTT on BE could be the gold standard for assessing the effectiveness of esophageal peristalsis if it can be quantified. Materials and Methods: Patients with normal lower esophageal sphincter parameters and standard-protocol BE from 2017 to 2020 were included. Patients were divided, based on the number of normal swallows (distal contractile integral >450 mm Hg-s-cm), into 11 groups (10 normal swallows to 0 normal swallows). Liquid barium swallows in prone position were objectively evaluated for prone BTT. Patients reported difficulty in swallowing on a scale from 0 (none) to 4 (very severe). Fractional polynomial and logistic regression analysis were used to study the association (along with the rate of change) between BTT, peristalsis, and dysphagia. Results: A total of 146 patients were included. Prone BTT increased as the number of normal swallows decreased (P<0.001). Two deflection points were noted on the association between peristalsis and prone BTT at 50% normal swallows, 40 seconds and 30% normal swallows, 80 seconds, after which peristaltic function declined independently of prone BTT. Patients with prone BTT>40 seconds had nearly 6-fold higher odds of 0% normal swallows on HRM than patients with prone BTT<40 seconds (P=0.002). Increasing prone BTT was associated with increasing dysphagia grades 1 and 2 (P <= 0.036). Conclusions: Esophageal motility can be quantified by BE. Prone BTT correlates with the proportion of normal esophageal swallows and dysphagia.

Automated summary

The study aimed to investigate the correlation between upright and prone bolus transit time (BTT) on barium esophagography (BE), esophageal peristalsis on high-resolution manometry (HRM), and self-reported dysphagia in patients. The results showed that prone BTT correlated with the proportion of normal esophageal swallows and dysphagia.