Abstract
In order to determine the effect of body position on esophageal peristalsis, normal subjects were studied by manometry in upright and supine positions. In each position, responses to a standard sequence of “dry” and “wet” swallows were recorded. Amplitudes, durations, and propagation times of esophageal contractions were uniformly greater with wet than with dry swallows. Peristaltic amplitudes were greater throughout the length of the esophagus in the supine than in the upright position. Peristaltic wave durations were relatively little influenced by body position, while propagation times were shorter in the upper esophagus but longer in the proximal half of the lower esophagus in the upright than in the supine position. All differences were more marked with wet than with dry swallows. Thus, esophageal peristalsis is significantly altered by body position, and the effect of the latter is bolus-dependent.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dodds WJ, Stef JJ, Arndorfer RL, Linehan JH, Hogan WJ: Improved infusion system for esophageal manometry. Clin Res 22:602A, 1974
Code CF, Creamer B, Schlegel JF, Olsen AM, Donoghue FE, Andersen HA: An Atlas of Esophageal Motility in Health and Disease. Charles C Thomas, Springfield, Illinois, 1958
Masaki S, Kiuchi K: Intraluminal pressure changes of the human esophagus. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 80:83–92, 1971
Dodds WJ: Instrumentation and methods for intraluminal esophageal manometry. Arch Intern Med 136:515–523, 1976
Humphries TJ, Castell DO: Pressure profile of esophageal peristalsis in normal humans as measured by direct intraesophageal transducers. Am J Dig Dis 22:641–645, 1977
Dodds WJ, Hogan WJ, Reid DP, Stewart ET, Arndorfer RC: A comparison between primary esophageal peristalsis following wet and dry swallows. J Appl Physiol 35:851–857, 1973
Hollis JB, Castell DO: Effect of dry swallows and wet swallows of different volumes on esophageal peristalsis. J Appl Physiol 38:1161–1164, 1975
Boesby S, Söndergaard EY, Madsen T: Oesophageal peristalsis. A simple system for the recording of oesophageal peristalsis, and the influence of bolus volume on peak peristaltic pressure amplitude. Scand J Gastroenterol 13:149–153, 1978
Kronecker H. Dictionnaire de Physiologie, Vol 4, Paris, 1900. Quoted by Ingelfinger FJ: Esophageal motility. Physiol Rev 38:533–584, 1958
Dodds WJ, Hogan WJ, Stewart ET, Stef JJ, Arndorfer RC: Effects of increased intra-abdominal pressure on esophageal peristalsis. J Appl Physiol 37:378–383, 1974
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported by General Research Support Funds, and by grant RR 109 from the General Clinical Research Centers Program of the Division of Research Resources, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Some of this work has been published as an abstract (Gastroenterology 76:1167, 1979).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kaye, M.D., Wexler, R.M. Alteration of esophageal peristalsis by body position. Digest Dis Sci 26, 897–901 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01309493
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01309493