BACKGROUND/AIMS To evaluate the effects of the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor vardenafil on esophageal function, including bolus transit, using multichannel intraluminal impedance and esophageal manometry (MII-EM). METHODS Sixteen healthy volunteers (15 men) underwent an MII-EM study including 10 liquid swallows and 10 viscous swallows in a seated position after fasting. Then, each...

This study describes the symptoms reported by patients with the indeterminate form of chronic Chagas disease and evaluates associations between these symptoms and alterations in esophageal motility. Esophageal manometry was performed on 50 patients, with measurements of the length and pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter, peristaltism and the amplitude of contractions of the esophageal bo...

BACKGROUND Acute administration of the oral 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone, which is commonly used as an anxiolytic drug, may improve compromised lower esophageal sphincter function. In an open-label trial we assessed the effects of buspirone on esophageal motor function and symptoms in patients with esophageal involvement associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS Thirty consecutiv...

Zenker's diverticulum is an alimentary tract pouch localized in the area of the upper esophageal sphincter. Treatment procedure complications and coexisting diseases constitute a serious diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Characteristic symptoms and signs facilitate differential diagnosis, simultaneously being real patient maladies. There are many treatment procedures leading to pouch septum r...

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common diagnoses in a gastroenterologist's practice. Gastroesophageal reflux describes the retrograde movement of gastric contents through the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to the esophagus. It is a common, normal phenomenon which may occur with or without accompanying symptoms. Symptoms associated with GERD include heartburn, acid re...