Four-Channel Sleeve Catheter for Prolonged Measurement of Lower Esophageal Sphincter Pressure

A sleeve catheter capable of monitoring thelower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure in fourquadrants at right angels has been developed. Thepresent study used this four-quadrant sleeve catheter toassess radial asymmetry in LES in the supine, prone,and upright positions. The results in 37 normal subjectswere compared with those of a conventional side-holecatheter and a Dent sleeve catheter. In vitro studies showed that the response rate of eachradially oriented sleeve is comparable to the Dentsleeve. Mean pressures were not significantly differentbetween the three different types of catheter. The four-quadrant sleeve catheter consistentlydetected a higher LES pressure in the left posteriorposition, regardless of body position. The four quadrantsleeve catheter can be used to record LES pressure from four different quadrants of the LES forprolonged periods.