Esophageal dysphagia and reflux symptoms before and after oral IQoroR training

Abstract

AIM: To examine whether muscle training with an oral IQoro^R screen (IQS) improves esophageal dysphagia and reflux symptoms.

METHODS: A total of 43 adult patients (21 women and 22 men) were consecutively referred to a swallowing center for the treatment and investigation of long-lasting nonstenotic esophageal dysphagia. Hiatal hernia was confirmed by radiologic examination in 21 patients before enrollment in the study (group A; median age 52 years, range: 19-85 years). No hiatal hernia was detected by radiologic examination in the remaining 22 patients (group B; median age 57 years, range: 22-85 years). Before and after training with an oral IQS for 6-8 mo, the patients were evaluated using a symptom questionnaire (esophageal dysphagia and acid chest symptoms; score 0-3), visual analogue scale (ability to swallow food: score 0-100), lip force test (≥ 15 N), velopharyngeal closure test (≥ 10 s), orofacial motor tests, and an oral sensory test. Another twelve patients (median age 53 years, range: 22-68 years) with hiatal hernia were evaluated using oral IQS traction maneuvers with pressure recordings of the upper esophageal sphincter and hiatus canal as assessed by high-resolution manometry.

RESULTS: Esophageal dysphagia was present in all 43 patients at entry, and 98% of patients showed improvement after IQS training [mean score (range): 2.5 (1-3) vs 0.9 (0-2), P < 0.001]. Symptoms of reflux were reported before training in 86% of the patients who showed improvement at follow-up [1.7 (0-3) vs 0.5 (0-2), P < 0.001). The visual analogue scale scores were classified as pathologic in all 43 patients, and 100% showed improvement after IQS training [71 (30-100) vs 22 (0-50), P < 0.001]. No significant difference in symptom frequency was found between groups A and B before or after IQS training. The lip force test [31 N (12-80 N) vs 54 N (27-116), P < 0.001] and velopharyngeal closure test values [28 s (5-74 s) vs 34 s (13-80 s), P < 0.001] were significantly higher after IQS training. The oral IQS traction results showed an increase in mean pressure in the diaphragmatic hiatus region from 0 mmHg at rest (range: 0-0 mmHG) to 65 mmHg (range: 20-100 mmHg).

CONCLUSION: Oral IQS training can relieve/improve esophageal dysphagia and reflux symptoms in adults, likely due to improved hiatal competence.

Key Words: Esophageal dysphagia; Manometry; Muscle training; Oral screen; Reflux

Core tip: Oropharyngeal dysphagia can be improved by training with an IQoro^R screen (IQS). The present study investigated whether IQS training may improve esophageal dysphagia (ED) in a similar manner as surgical repair of a hiatal hernia. Forty-three patients with longstanding ED and reflux symptoms, which were not relieved by treatment with proton pump inhibitors, received IQS training three times daily for six months; all showed increased diaphragm hiatus pressure. ED improved in 42 patients and reflux symptoms improved in 36. IQS training can be a valuable alternative to surgery with restoration of hiatal competence in patients with ED and reflux symptoms.

INTRODUCTION

Long-lasting oropharyngeal dysphagia can be successfully treated with oral IQoro^R screen (IQS) training[1,2]. Because IQS training involves the entire buccinator mechanism[3,4], the upper esophageal sphincter (UES), and contraction of the diaphragm, it was hypothesized that oral IQS training would also make the hiatus canal more resistant against a pressure load from below, and thereby prevent sliding of a hernia and gastroesophageal reflux. The present study investigated whether esophageal dysphagia (intermittent blocking sensation in the chest at meals) and reflux symptoms can be improved or eliminated by oral IQS training in adult patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study design

This study was a prospective therapeutic and clinical study describing the effects of IQS training on esophageal dysphagia and reflux symptoms.

Patients

A total of 43 adult patients (21 women and 22 men) were consecutively referred to a swallowing center for oral IQS training[1,2] and evaluation of esophageal dysphagia of a nonstenotic character for a median period of 3 years (range: 1-15 years). Gastroesophageal radiology was performed with barium swallows in the upright position in all patients to exclude stenosis as a cause for dysphagia before enrollment in the study. Hiatal hernia was present in 21 patients (group A; median age 52 years, range: 19-85 years, 13 women, 8 men) but not in the remaining 22 patients (group B; median age 57 years, range: 22-85 years, 8 women, 14 men). All patients had received proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medication for > 1 year without any effect on their dysphagia or reflux symptoms. However, the patients were not asked to withdraw their PPI medication during the study period. Patients with neurologic diseases were excluded. This prospective clinical study was performed during 2013-2014.

At baseline and after the training period, the patients completed a symptom questionnaire regarding symptoms of hiatal incompetence (a blocking feeling in the chest at meals, acid feeling in the chest, or acid regurgitation), which was scored from 0 to 3 (0 = no, 1 = slight, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe)[5], and a visual analogue scale[2] regarding their ability to swallow food was scored from 0 to 100 mm (0 = normal, 100 = total inability). Different orofacial motor tests[6] and oral sensory tests[7] were performed in order to exclude dysphagia of central nervous system origin. On both occasions, a lip force test[8,9] and velopharyngeal closure test[10] were performed to confirm normal oropharyngeal function and training compliance. The training effect was investigated after 6-8 mo; however, all patients were contacted by telephone or in the clinic two or three times before follow-up to verify training compliance. Another twelve patients with hiatal hernia (median age 53 years, range: 22-68 years), as assessed by radiology and endoscopy, were investigated at an esophageal laboratory in the sitting and recumbent positions using esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM)[11] to determine if oral IQS traction increased the diaphragmatic pressure in the hiatus canal.

Esophageal HRM

IQS traction was measured by esophageal HRM[11], with special attention given to the pressure in the UES (normal resting pressure > 30 mmHg) and the diaphragmatic hiatus (normal resting pressure 10-35 mmHg).

IQS training

An oral IQS (Figures 1 and 2) was inserted behind closed lips, and the patient was told to draw it forward in a horizontal direction from the lips, gradually increasing the pulling pressure for 5-10 s while trying to resist the force by tightening the lips. The exercise was performed three times per session, with 3 s of rest between each repetition, three times daily before eating.

Figure 1 Oral IQoro^R screen.

Figure 2 IQoro^R training. A: The IQoro^R screen is inserted predentally behind closed lips; B: The patient presses their lips firmly and pulls forward strongly for 5-10 s, repeating the exercise three times with 3 s of rest between repetitions. Training should be performed three times a day, preferably before mealtimes. Illustration: Mary Hägg.

Statistical analysis

A professional statistician from Uppsala Clinical Research Centre consolidated and analyzed all collected data according to an initial protocol. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare data within groups for all symptoms and the results of visual analogue scale tests, lip force tests, and velopharyngeal closure tests before and after IQS training. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare dysphagia and reflux symptoms between groups A and B before and after IQS training. P < 0.05 was considered significant. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS version 9.1 software (SAS Institute, Inc., Carey, NC, United States). A statistical review of this study was performed by a biomedical statistician before submission of the manuscript.

RESULTS

Esophageal dysphagia was present in all 43 patients, and 98% of patients showed improvement after IQS training (P < 0.001; Table 1). The visual analogue scale scores were initially classified as pathologic in all 43 patients, and 100% of patients improved after IQS training (P < 0.001). At baseline, reflux symptoms were recorded in 86% of patients who showed significant improvement after training (P < 0.001). No significant difference in symptom frequency was found between groups A and B before or after IQS training. Lip force test and velopharyngeal closure test scores showed significant improvement after IQS training (P < 0.001). All orofacial motor tests and oral sensory test scores were initially normal.

Table 1 Scores for various parameters at baseline (B) and at the end of training (E) with an IQoro^R screen.

Parameter	Groups A and B		Group A		Group B		P value
	n = 43	P value (B vs E)	n = 21	P value (B vs E)	n = 22	P value (B vs E)	(group A vs group B)
Esophageal dysphagia (score 0-3)		< 0.001		< 0.001		< 0.001	NS
B	2.5 (1-3)		2.5 (1-3)		2.5 (2-3)		NS
E	0.9 (0-2)		0.9 (0-2)		0.9 (0-2)		NS
Reflux (score 0-3)		< 0.001		< 0.001		< 0.001	NS
B	1.7 (0-3)		2.0 (1-3)		1.4 (0-3)		NS
E	0.5 (0-3)		0.7 (0-2)		0.3 (0-1)		NS
Visual analogue scale (score 0-100)		< 0.001		< 0.001		< 0.001
B	71 (30-100)		71 (30-100)		70 (30-100)
E	22 (0-50)		24 (0-50)		21 (0-50)
Lip force test (index ≥ 15 N)		< 0.001		< 0.001		< 0.001
B	31(12-80)		26 (12-43)		39 (14-80)
E	54 (27-116)		49 (27-84)		64 (40-116)
Velopharyngeal closure test (index ≥ 10 s)		< 0.001		< 0.001		< 0.001
B	28 (5-74)		26 (10-53)		29 (5-50)
E	34 (13-80)		32 (17-65)		36 (13-60)

Data are presented as mean (range); P values for comparisons between different parameters were determined using the Wilcoxon signed rank. P values for comparisons between groups A and B were determined using the Mann-Whitney U test. NS: Not significant.

IQS traction significantly increased the pressure in the UES and diaphragmatic hiatus region (Table 2).

Table 2 Esophageal high-resolution manometry measurements of pressure in the upper esophageal sphincter and hiatus canal during rest and traction with an IQoro^R screen in patients with hiatal hernia.

Item	UES (n = 12)	Hiatus canal (n = 12)
Resting pressure (mmHg)	68 (40–110)	0 (0–0)
IQS traction (mmHg)	95 (80–130)	65 (20–100)

Data are presented as mean (range). IQS: IQoro^R screen; UES: Upper esophageal sphincter.

DISCUSSION

This study of IQS training showed significant improvement of long-lasting esophageal dysphagia and symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux in adults. Dysphagia is often a poorly defined symptom and can lead to misinterpretation of investigative and therapeutic results[12]. Long-lasting oropharyngeal dysphagia is mostly of neurologic origin[13], whereas esophageal dysphagia presents either a stenotic character, which causes a blocking feeling with a certain ingested bolus size[14], or an intermittent nonstenotic character, which is common in patients with hiatal hernia[15]. Patients referred to a speech and swallowing center for dysphagia treatment were examined using various oropharyngeal motor tests to ensure the absence of oropharyngeal dysphagia of central nervous system origin. These tests were also found to be valuable for confirming patient compliance with IQS training.

IQS training has been shown to have a training effect on the striated muscles involved in the buccinator mechanism[3,4] and the UES. The present esophageal HRM study showed that traction with an IQS activates striated muscles in the UES and the hiatus region of the diaphragm. Therefore, it seems reasonable that IQS training over a long period of time will have a training effect on the muscles around the hiatus canal and improve hiatal competence. However, determining whether the IQS training effect can be obtained in less than six months and remain after the end of training was beyond the scope of this study. In a surgical study, tightening of the hiatus canal in association with hiatal hernia surgery relieved esophageal dysphagia[16].

The frequency of dysphagia and reflux symptoms at baseline and after IQS training did not differ between patients with and without hiatal hernia in this study. However, radiologic examination could not completely exclude hiatal hernia among patients in group B, as most radiologists do not perform esophageal examination in patients with dysphagia in recumbency[17]. Moreover, a sliding hiatal hernia will be overlooked when the X-ray examination is performed in the upright position[18]. Most patients with hiatal hernia have intermittent esophageal dysphagia, pathologic gastroesophageal reflux, or both[19,20]. In the present study, the frequency of symptoms of dysphagia and reflux and the training effect on these symptoms did not differ between the groups, which indicates that hiatal hernia was likely missed on the radiologic examination in group B. Because no patient was administered PPI medication after entry into this study, medication can be excluded as the cause for improvement.

In conclusion, oral IQS training can relieve/improve symptoms of esophageal dysphagia and gastroesophageal reflux in adults, likely due to improved hiatal competence.

COMMENTS

Background

Intermittent meal-related periods of food retention in the chest, termed esophageal dysphagia, and reflux symptoms are common problems in patients with hiatal hernia. Surgical repair of the hiatal hernia is the only option if antireflux medication with proton pump inhibitors is insufficient. However, surgical repair is not without undesired side effects, is expensive, and is not easily available for most patients.

Research frontiers

Oropharyngeal dysphagia can be improved by oral and pharyngeal muscle training with an oral IQoro^R screen (IQS). The present study aimed to investigate whether IQS training can improve esophageal dysphagia and reflux symptoms in a manner similar to that of hiatal hernia surgery.

Innovations and breakthroughs

Forty-three patients who had received proton pump inhibitors for more than one year, without any effect on esophageal dysphagia and symptomatic reflux, received training with an IQS for six months. Esophageal dysphagia showed significant improvement in 42 patients and reflux symptoms improved in 36 patients. Traction with IQS showed that the diaphragmatic hiatus pressure had increased, which is a prerequisite for training the muscles around the hiatus canal and for improvement of hiatal competence. These results show that IQS training can relieve/improve symptoms of esophageal dysphagia and reflux in adults, likely due to improvement of hiatal competence. IQS training therefore seems to represent a promising, inexpensive, and easily available alternative to hiatal hernia surgery.

Applications

The oral IQS screen is inserted predentally behind closed lips, and the patient then draws the screen backwards in a horizontal direction, gradually increasing the pulling pressure for five to ten seconds while trying to resist the force by tightening the lips. This exercise must be performed three times per session, with three seconds of rest between repetitions, three times daily before eating.

Terminology

Proton pump inhibitors are a group of drugs whose main action is a pronounced and long-lasting reduction of gastric acid production.

Peer-review

The study is innovative and promotes nonsurgical treatment of reflux, which can-when widely accepted and adopted-defer unnecessary surgery. This manuscript shows very interesting and promising data that IQS training is effective at treating patients with esophageal dysphagia and reflux symptoms.