Prospective Evaluation of Opioid Cessation in Patients With Suspected Opioid-Induced Esophageal Dysfunction.

Abstract

The causal relationship between chronic opioid use and esophageal motor dysfunction in symptomatic patients has not been established. A prospective before-and-after multicenter study, including chronic active opioid patients referred for esophageal motility tests because of nonobstructive dysphagia. Thirty-seven patients were evaluated, and 27 (73%) had criteria for opioid-induced esophageal dysfunction. In 19 patients who discontinued opioids for at least 7 days, esophageal motor disorders resolved in 10 (52.6%), accompanied by a clinical success response (defined as Eckardt ≤3) in 64.3%. Discontinuation of opioids is associated with clinical and esophageal motility improvement in up to half of the patients.