The effect of water bolus temperature on esophageal motor function as measured by high-resolution manometry.

BackgroundIngestion of cold fluids may induce pain in patients with esophageal motility disorders. Hot fluids, on the other hand, may help to relieve pain. We studied changes in esophageal motility as a variable of water bolus temperature using high-resolution manometry (HRM) in healthy human. MethodsThirty-two healthy subjects were recruited at Kosin University Hospital. HRM was performed in a sitting position, with room temperature (RT, 25 degrees C), hot (45 degrees C), and cold (2 degrees C) water swallowed in that order. This exam included single swallowing (10 swallows of 5mL water, 30s intervals) and multiple water swallows (MWS; 100mL water within 30s). Key ResultsIn the single swallowing, hot water caused a decrease in lower esophageal sphincter (LES) residual pressure (5.874.20mmHg vs 7.45 +/- 4.17mmHg (RT), p=0.001) and duration of esophageal body (EB) contraction (3.01 +/- 0.80s vs 3.15 +/- 1.16s (RT), p=0.009). Cold water caused an increase in the duration of EB contraction (3.52 +/- 0.87s vs 3.15 +/- 1.16s (RT), p=0.001) and a decrease in contractile front velocity (CFV) (4.43 +/- 1.50cm/s vs 4.90 +/- 2.53cm/s (RT), p=0.007). Similarly, in the MWS, hot water caused a decrease in the duration of EB contraction (12.95 +/- 5.02s vs 16.33 +/- 5.94s (RT), p=0.024) and an increase in the amplitude of EB contraction (114.27 +/- 83.36mmHg vs 82.70 +/- 46.77mmHg (RT), p=0.007). Cold water caused an increase in the duration of EB contraction (27.38 +/- 2.89s vs 16.33 +/- 5.94s (RT), p=0.03) and a decrease in the amplitude of EB contraction (51.68 +/- 33.94mmHg vs 82.70 +/- 46.77mmHg (RT), p=0.001). Conclusions & InferencesThis study showed changes in esophageal motility to be dependent on water temperature. Especially, MWS showed clear changes in esophageal motility at different temperatures of water.