{"id":8158,"date":"2022-03-24T09:23:06","date_gmt":"2022-03-24T13:23:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gastropedia.pub\/en\/?p=8158"},"modified":"2023-12-29T13:47:23","modified_gmt":"2023-12-29T18:47:23","slug":"endoluminal-functional-lumen-imaging-probe-endofliptm-understanding-the-technology-and-its-potential-uses","status":"publish","type":[121],"link":"https:\/\/gastropedia.pub\/en\/gastroenterology\/endoluminal-functional-lumen-imaging-probe-endofliptm-understanding-the-technology-and-its-potential-uses\/","title":{"rendered":"Endoluminal Functional Lumen Imaging Probe (EndoflipTM): understanding the technology and its potential uses"},"content":{"rendered":"

The EndoflipTM\u00a0<\/sup>is an innovative technique that uses impedance planimetry technology to assess the distensibility<\/strong> of gastrointestinal organs.<\/p>\n

Despite being developed in 2009, its use is still restricted to research environments due to high costs and the need for more evidence for better standardization of the method.<\/p>\n

It consists of a catheter that has at its distal end a distensible balloon of 8 or 16 cm (Figures 1 and 2). In this balloon, there are 16 pairs of impedance planimetry sensors, which are capable of measuring the cross-sectional area of a plane of the organ (planimetry) using the electrical resistance (impedance) of the fluid in the balloon.<\/p>\n

At the distal end of the catheter, there is also a pressure transducer, which is responsible for measuring the pressure inside the balloon. Thus, by dividing the cross-sectional area by the pressure, we can determine the Distensibility Index<\/strong> in response to volume-controlled distension.<\/p>\n

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Figure 1: Representation of the EndoflipTM monitor (Su B et al, 2020).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Figure 2: Representation of the EndoflipTM catheter taking measurements in the lower esophageal sphincter (Hirano et al, 2017).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Most of the studies with EndoflipTM\u00a0<\/sup>have been carried out for esophageal evaluation. For this, the catheter is introduced with the patient sedated, usually after upper digestive endoscopy.<\/p>\n

With the introduction of EndoflipTM<\/sup> 2.0 in 2017, a topography system was also associated, which allows the evaluation of esophageal motility (whether absence of waves, whether abnormal retrograde contractions or normal anterograde contractions) – Figure 3.<\/p>\n

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Figure 3: Unaltered exam, presenting esophagogastric junction with normal distensibility and normal anterograde contractions (Dorsey YC et al, 2020).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

<\/h4>\n

The potential applications of the method are:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1. Evaluation of dysphagia and achalasia<\/strong><\/h3>\n