Abstract
Objective: During normal swallowing, longitudinal conduction of pharyngeal pressure occurs from the velopharynx to the esophagus for the transportation of a food bolus. In this study, we analyzed the conduction velocity (CV) of swallowing pressures in the pharynx using a novel high-resolution manometry (HRM) system.
Method: Pharyngeal pressure topographies (PPTs) were obtained from 95 asymptomatic subjects. PPT is a derivative of HRM data that dynamically displays intrapharyngeal swallowing pressure. We measured CV at the velopharynx (V1), meso-hypopharynx (V2), upper esophageal sphincter (UES, V3), and cervical esophagus (V4). We also measured their swallowing pressure durations by analyzing PPT.
Results: V1 to V4 were 24.7, 14.5, 15.0, and 4.7 cm/sec, respectively. The differences between V1 versus V2 and V3 versus V4 were statistically significant. Swallowing pressure durations at the same regions were 0.57, 0.23, 1.94, and 1.27 seconds, respectively.
Conclusion: These findings indicate the conduction pattern of pressures. The CV from the mesopharynx to the UES is almost constant because of the anatomical similarity of middle and inferior pharyngeal constrictors. The duration at the UES is longer than the others; this accounts for the prevention of backflow from the esophagus.
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