Prevalence of Ineffective Esophageal Motility Among Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) is characterized by both failed peristalsis and frequent swallows with breaks in the middle/distal peristaltic wave and it may result in symptoms reflecting poor esophageal emptying. As such, IEM may play a role in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and nonobstructive dysphagia.1 The definition of IEM has evolved after the introduction of high-resolution manometry (HRM), esophageal pressur topography (EPT), and the Chicago Classification of esophageal motility, that-in its second version-defined IEM as weak peristalsis, small (2-5 cm) and large (over 5 cm) peristaltic defects, or frequent (>30%) failed peristalsis. 2 More recently however, the updated third version of the Chicago Classification eliminated small and large breaks from the list of criteria and defined ineffective swallows by a DCI < 45 mmHg.s.cm with ≥50% ineffective swallows constituting IEM, thus eliminating the distinction between failed swallows and weak swallows.3 IEM, as well as fragmented peristalsis, is considered as minor disorders of peristalsis and their clinical significance remains debatable. IEM is the most common abnormality observed in routine esophageal manometry, with an estimated prevalence of 20%-30% reported a prevalence of 51% in patients with esophageal dysphagia. Before 2008 a threshold of 30% was used, but a threshold of 50% correlates better with dysphagia and heartburn.

High-resolution manometry (HRM) provides an improved and more detailed information on esophageal motility when compared to conventional manometry, and today is considered the best test for diagnosis of motility disorders.