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Pharyngeal high-resolution manometry in dysphagia care: clinical experience in a tertiary referral centre

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2025

Daniel Saad ,
Can Doruk ,
Margaret Coffey  and
Chadwan Al Yaghchi Open the ORCID record for Chadwan Al Yaghchi [Opens in a new window]
Daniel Saad
Affiliation:
National Centre for Airway Reconstruction, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
Can Doruk
Affiliation:
National Centre for Airway Reconstruction, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
Margaret Coffey
Affiliation:
SLT Department, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
Chadwan Al Yaghchi*
Affiliation:
National Centre for Airway Reconstruction, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
*
Corresponding author: Chadwan Al Yaghchi; Email: chadwan.alyaghchi@nhs.net
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Abstract

Objective

Pharyngeal high-resolution manometry provides detailed insights into pharyngeal swallowing biomechanics by offering high-resolution pressure measurements across the pharynx and upper oesophageal sphincter. Here we present our early experience using the technology.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of 43 patients who underwent pharyngeal high-resolution manometry assessment for dysphagia at a tertiary dysphagia clinic. Swallows of varying consistencies were tested, and key metrics based on international guidelines were analysed.

Results

PHRM facilitated the diagnosis of cricopharyngeal spasm, pharyngeal weakness and upper oesophageal sphincter dysfunction. It revealed pharyngeal weakness in 50 per cent and ruled out cricopharyngeal spasm in 20 per cent of patients with suspected findings. In post-treatment failures, it detected pharyngeal weakness in 83 per cent of cases. Pharyngeal high-resolution manometry also supported diagnosis and management of retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction and globus sensation.

Conclusion

Pharyngeal high-resolution manometry is a valuable adjunct in evaluating dysphagia, enabling more accurate diagnoses and tailored treatments. It helped avoid unnecessary surgeries and improved care for patients with complex swallowing disorders.

Keywords

cricopharyngeal muscledeglutition disordershigh-resolution manometryupper oesophageal sphincter

Information

Type
Short Communications
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 140 , Issue 1 , January 2026 , pp. 104 - 110
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED.

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Footnotes

*

Daniel Saad and Can Doruk have contributed equally to this manuscript and should be considered joint first author.

Chadwan Al Yaghchi takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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