Abstract
BACKGROUND: Jackhammer esophagus (JE) is a newly described esophageal motility disorder characterized by the presence of distal esophageal hypercontractility. However, there is limited data on JE and this entity remains misunderstood. AIMS: To systematically review the published clinical data on JE and present pooled data on patient demographics, disease presentation, manometry parameters and treatment outcomes from the available literature. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of clinical series on JE (based on the latest Chicago Classification criteria (v3.0)) through MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science. Patient data from included studies were then extracted and random-effects meta-analyses were performed to calculate and compare pooled data. RESULTS: Thirty-seven studies met inclusion criteria reporting on at least one pooled variable. The pooled prevalence of JE was 1.97% [95% CI: 1.39%-2.78%] amongst patients referred for high resolution manometry (HRM) based on eleven studies reporting this data (Figure 1). The mean age at diagnosis was 60.8 years [95% CI: 57.1–64.4] and 65% [95% CI: 58%-72%] of patients were female. JE was significantly more prevalent in post-lung transplant patients and morbidly obese patients undergoing HRM (23.99% [95% CI: 9.00%-38.97%] and 5.18% [95% CI: 1.76%-14.3%] respectively). Dysphagia was the most common presentation of JE (64% [95% CI: 52%-77%]) followed by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (46% [95% CI: 26%-67%]), regurgitation (39% [95% CI: 10%-67%] and heartburn (34% [95% CI: 22%-45%]). The pooled mean distal contractile integer (DCI) of all ten standard HRM swallows was 9,535 mmHg●s●cm [95% CI: 6,978–12,093] and the pooled mean integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) was 13.9 mmHg [95% CI: 8.2–19.7]. Endoscopic treatment as a whole was more successful than medical treatment in achieving clinical symptom improvement (79% [95% CI: 74%-85%] vs. 63% [95% CI: 47%-79%]; p=0.012). The pooled clinical success rate of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) specifically was 82% [95% CI: 75%-90%]. CONCLUSIONS: JE is a new motility disorder most commonly presenting with dysphagia. High clinical suspicion is important because the diagnosis can only be made through HRM and treatment outcomes are generally satisfactory. FUNDING AGENCIES: None