Prospective evaluation of opioid cessation in patients with suspected Opioid-induced esophageal dysfunction (OIED)

Introduction: The causal relationship between chronic opioid use and esophageal motor dysfunction in symptomatic patients has not been established. Methods: A prospective before-and-after multicenter study, including chronic active opioid patients referred for esophageal motility tests due to non-obstructive dysphagia. Results: 37 patients were evaluated, 27 (73%) had criteria of opioid-induced esophageal dysfunction (OIED). 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%. Discussion: Discontinuation of opioids is associated with clinical and esophageal motility improvement in up to half of the patients.