Background & Aims
We compared findings from timed barium esophagrams (TBEs) and esophageal pressure topography (EPT) studies among achalasia subtypes and in relation to symptom severity.
Method
We analyzed data from 50 patients with achalasia (31 male, 20–79 years old) who underwent high-resolution manometry (HRM), had TBE following a 200ml barium swallow, and completed questionnaires that determine Eckardt Scores (ES). Twenty-five were not treated and 25 were treated (11 by pneumatic dilation, 14 by myotomy). Non-parametric testing was used to assess differences among groups of treated patients (10 had type-1 achalasia and 15 had type-2 achalasia), and the Pearson correlation was used to assess their relationship.
Results
There were no significant differences in TBE measurements between patient groups. Of the 25 patients who received treatment, 10 had a manometric pattern consistent with persistent achalasia after treatment (6 with type 1 and 4 with type 2 achalasia), whereas 15 appeared to have resolved the achalasia pattern (peristalsis was absent in 8 and weak in 7). The height of the barium column at 5 minutes and ES were significantly reduced in patients that had resolved their achalasia pattern, based on HRM. The integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) and the TBE column height correlated at 5 minutes (r=0.422; p<0.05).
Discussion
Patients that resolve their achalasia pattern, based on HRM, demonstrated improved emptying based on TBE measurements and improved symptom scores. There was no significant difference between patients with type-1 or 2 achalasia in TBEs. These findings indicate that normalization of the IRP on HRM is a clinically relevant objective of treatment for achalasia.
Interventional radiology's role in the management of portal hypertension in the pediatric population differs from the management of adult portal hypertension. In the pediatric population, portal hypertension is frequently secondary to thrombosis and cavernous transformation of the extrahepatic portion of the portal vein. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt can be utilized to manage portal hypertension in children with intrinsic liver disease that results in cirrhosis and portal hypertension, and is often used as a bridge to transplant. While technically feasible in extrahepatic portal vein occlusion, the sequelae of portosystemic shunting are less desirable in a child. The Meso-Rex bypass procedure, which represents the mainstay of management for pediatric portal hypertension, provides surgical relief of extrahepatic portal vein obstruction and restores mesenteric venous blood flow to the liver. This article aims to review management of portal hypertension in children as it pertains to the interventional radiologist, including preoperative assessment, postoperative evaluation, and the management of complications of the Meso-Rex bypass.
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