Characterization of pharyngeal contractile integral using pharyngeal manometry in children

Abstract

AbstractObjectivesPharyngeal contractile integral (PhCI) is the product of mean pharyngeal contractile amplitude, length, and duration, and provides a single metric for the vigor of entire pharyngeal contraction. A major limitation in children is lack of characterization of PhCI on high‐resolution pharyngeal manometry. We aimed to determine and compare the values of PhCI in children with the abnormal and normal videofluoroscopic study of swallow (VFSS).MethodsChildren who underwent high‐resolution pharyngeal and esophageal manometry (HRPM/HREM), as well as VFSS, were divided into two groups; “normal VFSS” and “abnormal VFSS” groups. PhCI was calculated from the pharyngo‐esophageal manometry analysis software (MMS, v9.5, Laborie Medical Technologies), and compared in these two groups.ResultsOf 67 children, 9 had abnormal VFSS (mean age 64 ± 50 months; 66.7% males), while 58 had normal VFSS (mean age 123 ± 55 months; 47% males). The mean PhCI in abnormal and normal VFSS groups was 82.00 ± 51.90 and 147.28 ± 53.89 mmHg.s.cm, respectively (p = 0.001). Subjects with abnormal VFSS were significantly younger than those with normal VFSS (p = 0.003). However, after adjusting for the VFSS result, age was no longer related to PhCI (p = 0.364). In subgroup analysis of children presenting with dysphagia, the mean PhCI in abnormal (9 subjects) and normal (36 subjects) VFSS groups was 82.00 ± 51.90 and 141.86 ± 50.39 mmHg.s.cm, respectively (p = 0.003).ConclusionsPhCI was significantly lower in children with abnormal VFSS than in those with normal VFSS. We did not find a significant impact of age on PhCI in our pediatric populations.