Physiological and pathological roles of the accommodation response in lower esophageal sphincter relaxation during wet swallows

The preparatory accommodation response of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) before swallowing is one of the mechanisms involved in LES relaxation during wet swallows, however, the physiological and/or pathological roles of LES accommodation remain to be determined in humans. To address this problem, we conducted a prospective observational study of 38 patients with normal high-resolution manometry (HRM) and 23 patients with idiopathic esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) to assess dry and wet swallows. The LES accommodation measurement was proposed for practical use in evaluating the LES accommodation response. Although swallow-induced LES relaxation was observed in both dry and wet swallows, LES accommodation (6.4, 3.1–11.1 mmHg) was only observed in wet swallows. The extent of LES accommodation was impaired in idiopathic EGJOO (0.6, − 0.6–6 mmHg), and the LES accommodation measurement of patients with idiopathic EGJOO (36.8, 29.5–44.3 mmHg) was significantly higher in comparison to those with normal HRM (23.8, 18–28.6 mmHg). Successful LES relaxation in wet swallowing can be achieved by LES accommodation in combination with swallow-induced LES relaxation. Impaired LES accommodation is characteristic of idiopathic EGJOO. In addition to the IRP value, the LES accommodation measurement may be useful for evaluating the LES relaxation function in clinical practice.