Patterns of esophageal pressurization in esophageal pressure topography

With compartmentalized pressurization (panel A) the swallowed bolus becomes trapped between the advancing peristaltic contraction and the outflow obstruction caused by a poorly relaxing EGJ in a patient with EGJ outflow obstruction. The black line indicated the 30 mmHg isobaric contour signifying that the compartmentalized pressurization exceeds 30 mmHg. Panel B illustrates panesophageal pressurization, spanning from the UES to the EGJ in a patient with type II achalasia. This patient also exhibits proximal esophageal pressurization associated with an isolated distal contraction later in that plot. Areas of bolus pressurization are characterized by areas of vertical lines on the 30 mmHg isobaric contour; they can be conceptualized as being the result of multiple pressure sensors being contained within an isobaric enclosed space.