Normal Values for Water-Perfused Conventional Esophageal Manometry in a Healthy Thai Population
Pitichote Hiranyatheb MD*,**, Suriya Chakkaphak MD*,**, Kaimuk Petsrikun RN**, Panuwat Lertsithichai MD, MSc***,****
Affiliation : * Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Ramathibodi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Endoscopic and Manometry Laboratory Unit, Department of Surgery, Ramathibodi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand *** Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Ramathibodi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand **** Surgical Research Unit, Department of Surgery, Ramathibodi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Water-perfused conventional esophageal manometry has been the investigative tool of choice for evaluating
esophageal motility disorders. Many studies demonstrated that many factors including difference in population group can
affect the result of the manometric test.
Objective : To establish normal values of water-perfused conventional manometry for Thai people.
Material and Method: Thirty healthy volunteers (15 of each sex, aged 19 to 53 years) were recruited. Esophageal manometry
using the water-perfused system was performed in each volunteer with ten 5-mL of water swallow and stationary pull-through
technique in supine position. The values were calculated and demonstrated in mean, median, and 5th to 95th percentile. The
effects of the gender on the measured parameters were analyzed.
Results : The mean value of peak contraction pressure and contraction time of the distal esophagus were 107.6 mmHg (5th to
95th percentile: 50.6 to 158.9 mmHg) and 3.3 s (2.63 to 4.59 s). The propagation velocity was 46.2 mm/s. The mean resting
pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter was 6.12 mmHg. (5th to 95th percentile: 3.9 to 7.9 mmHg). These key parameters
were not considerable different from those reported from the Western studies. The values were similar between genders except
mean resting pressure and relaxation time of the LES, which were significantly higher in the female group.
Conclusion : A set of normal values for water-perfused esophageal manometry using stationary pull-through technique was
established. Because the size of the population recruited was relatively small, further studies may be required to validate our
results.
Keywords : Water-perfused, Esophageal manometry, Manometric test, Pull-through technique, Thai
