Functional Luminal Imaging Probe Panometry Identifies Achalasia-Type Esophagogastric Junction Outflow Obstruction

Joseph R. Triggs*, Dustin A. Carlson, Claire Beveridge, Wenjun Kou, Peter J. Kahrilas, John E. Pandolfino

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

70 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background & Aims: The etiologies of esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) vary, as do their therapeutic implications. We aimed to identify patients with EGJOO most likely to benefit from achalasia-type treatment, based on findings from functional luminal imaging probe (FLIP) panometry. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 34 patients who received a diagnosis of EGJOO from January 2015 through July 2017. Our analysis included patients who had been evaluated with timed barium esophagram, FLIP, or upper endoscopy. Results: Among the 34 patients with idiopathic EGJOO, 7 (21%) had a normal esophagogastric junction distensibility index (EGJ-DI), based on FLIP panometry, and all had repetitive antegrade contractions. None of the patients had radiographic evidence of EGJOO (RAD-EGJOO), defined as liquid barium retention and/or barium tablet impaction. On the other hand, all 18 patients with RAD-EGJOO had an EGJ-DI less than 2 mm2/mm Hg. Nine of the 18 patients with RAD-EGJOO and EGJ-DI less than 2 mm2/mm Hg underwent achalasia-type treatment, and 77.8% of these (7 of 9) had improvements in Eckardt score. Of the 6 patients with a normal EGJ-DI (>3 mm2/mm Hg) who were treated conservatively and followed up, 100% had improvements in subsequent Eckardt scores. Conclusions: We found that FLIP is useful in identifying patients with EGJOO who are most likely to benefit from achalasia-type therapy. Patients with a low EGJ-DI responded well to achalasia-type treatment, whereas patients with normal results from FLIP panometry had good outcomes from conservative management. FLIP panometry might help select management strategies for this difficult population of patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2209-2217
Number of pages9
JournalClinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Volume18
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2020

Funding

Funding This work was supported by 1P01DK117824-01 (J.E.P.) and T32DK101363 (J.E.P. and J.R.T.) from the Public Health service .

Keywords

  • Esophagogastric Junction Distensibility Index
  • Esophagogastric Junction Outflow Obstruction
  • Functional Luminal Imaging Probe

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Gastroenterology
  • Hepatology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Functional Luminal Imaging Probe Panometry Identifies Achalasia-Type Esophagogastric Junction Outflow Obstruction'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this