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Esophageal Visceral Pain Sensitivity (Effects of TENS and Correlation with Manometric Findings)

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Abstract

Increased esophageal visceral sensitivity hasbeen suggested to be an important factor in thedevelopment of esophageal chest pain. Transcutaneouselectrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been foundeffective in the treatment of visceral heart pain insevere angina pectoris, but its effect on esophagealpain perception is not known. In this study, we used themethod of graded intraesophageal balloon distension to study the effects of TENS on esophagealmotility and pain sensitivity. In addition, we exploredthe relationship between manometric findings andesophageal susceptibility to pain. TENS reduced symptoms during balloon distension significantly anddecreased peristaltic velocity. Increased visceralperception was positively correlated to the amplitudeand duration of the esophageal peristalsis. This study suggests a correlation between increasedperistaltic waves and visceral perception in theesophagus. TENS appears to reduce esophageal painsensitivity and thus may be a useful treatment fornoncardiac chest pain of esophageal origin.

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Authors
  1. Mats Borjesson
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  2. Martin Pilhall
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  3. Tore Eliasson
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  4. Henrik Norssell
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  5. Clas Mannheimer
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  6. Peter Rolny
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Borjesson, M., Pilhall, M., Eliasson, T. et al. Esophageal Visceral Pain Sensitivity (Effects of TENS and Correlation with Manometric Findings). Dig Dis Sci 43, 1621–1628 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018886309364

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