Esophageal manometry is utilized for the evaluation and classification of esophageal motility disorders. EndoFlip has been introduced as an adjunctive test to evaluate esophagogastric junction (EGJ) distensibility. Treatment options for achalasia and EGJ outflow obstruction (EGJOO) include pneumatic dilation, myotomy, and botulinum toxin. Recently, a therapeutic 30 mm hydrostatic balloon dilator (EsoFLIP, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) has been introduced, which uses impedance planimetry technology like EndoFlip. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EsoFLIP in the management of esophageal motility disorders. A systematic literature search was performed with Medline, Embase, Web of science, and Cochrane library databases from inception to November 2022 to identify studies utilizing EsoFLIP for management of esophageal motility disorders. Our primary outcome was clinical success, and secondary outcomes were adverse events. Eight observational studies including 222 patients met inclusion criteria. Diagnoses included achalasia (158), EGJOO (48), post-reflux surgery dysphagia (8), and achalasia-like disorder (8). All studies used 30 mm maximum balloon dilation except one which used 25 mm. The clinical success rate was 68.7%. Follow-up duration ranged from 1 week to a mean of 5.7 months. Perforation or tear occurred in four patients. EsoFLIP is a new therapeutic option for the management of achalasia and EGJOO and appears to be effective and safe. Future comparative studies with other therapeutic modalities are needed to understand its role in the management of esophageal motility disorders.

A 14-month-old male presented to the emergency department with a 4-day history of vomiting after the intake of liquids or solids. During the admission, imaging studies revealed an esophageal web, a form of congenital esophageal stenosis. He was treated with a combination of Endoluminal Functional Lumen Imaging Probe (EndoFLIP) and controlled radial expansion (CRE) balloon dilation, followed by EndoFLIP and EsoFLIP dilation 1 month later. The patient\'s vomiting resolved after treatment, and he was able to gain weight. This report describes one of the first cases of applying EndoFLIP and EsoFLIP to treat an esophageal web in a pediatric patient.

Controlled radial expansion (CRE) balloon dilators are traditionally used to dilate esophageal strictures during an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). EndoFLIP is a diagnostic tool used during an EGD to measure important parameters of the gastrointestinal lumen, capable of assessing treatment before and after dilation. EsoFLIP is a related device that combines a balloon dilator with high-resolution impedance planimetry to provide some of the luminal parameters in real time during dilation. We sought to compare procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and safety profile of esophageal dilation using either CRE balloon dilation combined with EndoFLIP (E + CRE) versus EsoFLIP alone.
A single-center retrospective review was performed to identify patients ≤ 21 years of age who underwent an EGD with biopsy and esophageal stricture dilation using E + CRE or EsoFLIP between October 2017 and May 2022.
Twenty-nine EGDs with esophageal stricture dilation were performed in 23 patients (19 E + CRE and 10 EsoFLIP). The two groups did not differ in age, gender, race, chief complaint, type of esophageal stricture, or history of prior gastrointestinal procedures (all p > 0.05). The most common medical history in the E + CRE and EsoFLIP groups were eosinophilic esophagitis and epidermolysis bullosa, respectively. Median procedures times were shorter in the EsoFLIP cohort compared to E + CRE balloon dilation (40.5 min [IQR 23-57 min] for the EsoFLIP group; 64 min [IQR 51-77 min] for the E + CRE group; p < 0.01). Median fluoroscopy times were also shorter for patients who underwent EsoFLIP (0.16 min [IQR 0-0.30 min] for EsoFLIP dilation; 0.30 min [IQR 0.23-0.55] for the E + CRE group; p = 0.003). There were no complications or unplanned hospitalizations in either group.
EsoFLIP dilation of esophageal strictures was faster and required less fluoroscopy than CRE balloon dilation combined with EndoFLIP in children, while being equally as safe. Prospective studies are needed to further compare the two modalities.

Pediatric esophageal stenosis can be challenging to manage due to post-dilation tissue response involving fibroblast activity resulting in scar reformation. The functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) uses high-resolution impedance planimetry to measure key luminal parameters during a volume-controlled distension. We sought to evaluate the safety as well as possible settings of EndoFLIP and EsoFLIP in the pediatric population.
We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients that had EndoFLIP (with and without balloon dilation) or EsoFLIP done between July 2017 and May 2018.
Eighteen patients were identified and 19 FLIP procedures were performed during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (10 EndoFLIP, 6 EndoFLIP + traditional balloon dilation, 3 EsoFLIP). Median age for the population was 13.7 years. Dysphagia was the most common chief complaint prior to endoscopic intervention. EndoFLIP measurements were most commonly taken at 20 ml and/or 30 ml of infusion. Diameter, compliance, cross-sectional area, and distensibility index were similar between infusion volumes. Median procedure time of the EndoFLIP + traditional balloon dilation group was longer (60.5 min) than the median procedure time of the EsoFLIP group (35 min, p = 0.12). Median fluoroscopy time of the EndoFLIP + traditional balloon dilation group was 0.6 min and the median fluoroscopy time of the EsoFLIP group was 0.5 min (p = 0.79). EndoFLIP + traditional balloon dilation was associated with a smaller diameter increase compared to EsoFLIP (2.2 mm vs. 4 mm; p = 0.09). There were no complications.
Functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) can safely provide important luminal measurements in pediatric patients with esophageal stenosis, and may guide therapy. Esophageal dilation using EsoFLIP may yield a larger diameter change and may potentially reduce procedure time when compared to traditional balloon dilation. Pediatric patients with epidermolysis bullosa and esophageal stenosis responded well to EsoFLIP dilation.

OBJECTIVE: Impedance planimetry measures tissue wall distensibility as a function of pressure and cross-sectional area. Recent interest in this technique\'s relevance to the gastrointestinal tract has been accelerated by the availability of the functional lumen imaging probe, a catheter-based system that dynamically quantitates these biomechanical properties. Herein, we review the device\'s particular utility in the setting of esophageal pathology, including processes affecting the esophageal body as well as the upper and lower esophageal sphincters.
RESULTS: An expanding suite of disease-specific indications for impedance planimetry includes achalasia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and eosinophilic esophagitis. The technique has also demonstrated a role in the intraoperative guidance of therapy and in the definition of hitherto unrecognized patterns of esophageal dysmotility. Device-specific technology remains in active evolution, which, in conjunction with progressively larger datasets, sets the stage for broader clinical applicability in the near future.