Author(s)
Megan Brianne Saltsgaver, BS
Madison Cheung, BS
Theo Covello, BA
Amanda Weis BS
Weihai Zhan, PhD
Inna A. Husain, MD
Affiliation(s)
University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford; Indiana University School of Medicine
Abstract:
Educational Objective: The objective of this study was to demonstrate the prevalence of esophageal motility disorders among patients suspected to have LPR.
Objectives: To show prevalence of esophageal motility pathology in the workup for suspected LPR. To suggest reduced esophageal clearance may account for symptom manifestation often attributed to LPR.
Study Design: Retrospective chart review.
Methods: Adult patients clinically suspected to have LPR by a laryngologist who underwent barium esophagram from February 2023-June 2024. Demographics, PROMs, and radiology results were reviewed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe the data.
Results: There were 264 barium esophagrams completed for patients suspected to have LPR. The average age was 61.5 with 66.5% of patients being female, and 76.9% being Caucasian. There were 76 esophagrams showing reflux, 83 with dysmotility, 31 with reflux & dysmotility, and 74 with no findings of reflux or dysmotility. There was no significant difference among PROMs among the different esophageal disorders.
Conclusions: This study provides further evidence that esophageal dysmotility is prevalent in patients suspected to have LPR. Esophageal dysmotility may account for a high rate of treatment failure with PPI's due to decreased reflux clearance and prolonged exposure to stomach contents. Barium esophagram should be used as a noninvasive screening tool in patients with suspected LPR to evaluate for dysmotility. There may be utility in a PROM looking at laryngeal symptoms of esophageal dysmotility.