Relationship between pharyngeal or esophageal reconstruction and esophageal pressure after swallowing

BACKGROUND: High‐resolution manometry, which measures esophageal luminal pressure changes after swallowing, could shed more light on food‐transport dynamics after pharyngeal/esophageal reconstruction. This prospective cohort study assessed the influence of two head‐and‐neck and esophageal tumor‐resection and reconstruction approaches on esophageal pressure. METHODS: The cohort consisted of 17 patients who underwent esophageal/pharyngeal resection/reconstruction for cancer and then participated in postoperative high‐resolution manometry. Five healthy controls also underwent manometry for comparison. RESULTS: Partial pharyngectomy with patch grafts associated with smooth and continuous esophageal/pharyngeal movement. By contrast, surgery that removed the thoracic esophagus led to complete loss of peristalsis and poor food transport. CONCLUSIONS: High‐resolution manometry effectively characterized the changes in food‐transport dynamics caused by pharyngeal/esophageal resection/reconstruction. These findings suggest that continuous and smooth movement of the pharynx and esophagus is important for swallowing and high resolution manometry could be useful in patients after pharyngeal/esophageal resection/reconstruction.