Upper and Lower Esophageal Sphincter Kinetics are Modified During Maturation: Effect of Pharyngeal Stimulus in Premature Infants

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that changes in proximal and distal esophageal sphincter kinetics evoked upon pharyngeal provocation undergo longitudinal maturation. METHODS: Pharyngeal stimulation-induced reflexes were characterized using novel pharyngoesophageal motility methods in 19 healthy premature neonates, studied at 34.7 ± 0.8 wks (time-1), and 39.3 ± 1.1 wks postmenstrual age (time-2). Graded volumes of air (290 infusions) and sterile water (172 infusions) were infused to define sensory-motor characteristics of upstream (pharyngeal reflexive swallow, PRS) and downstream (pharyngo-lower esophageal sphincter relaxation reflex, PLESRR) esophageal reflexes. Data displayed as mean ± SE. RESULTS: Threshold volumes were similar with air and water for PRS and PLESRR at time-1 and time-2. Multiple PRS responses were noted with water stimulus, and were different between the media (time-1 vs. air, P< 0.0001; time-2 vs. air, P =0.0003). Dose response relationships for water were significant (P<0.01 for PRS and PLESRR time-1 and time-2), but not with air. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly, the recruitment frequency of PRS and PLESRR increases with maturation, liquid is a superior medium for evoking such swallowing reflexes, and stimulus-response relationships for these reflexes are evident. These changes in aerodigestive protective reflexive activity may indicate differences in modulation of excitatory and inhibitory pathways during longitudinal postnatal maturation.