When you swallow, the muscles of your esophagus contract and push food and liquids toward your stomach. Sphincters (rings of muscle) inside the esophagus open to let food and liquid through, then close to keep food, liquids, and stomach acid from moving backward up into the esophagus. The sphincter at the top of the esophagus is called the upper esophageal sphincter (UES), and the sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus is called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
Manometry is performed to see if the esophagus is contracting properly.
When Would Your Doctor Order an Esophageal Manometry?
If you are experiencing difficulty when swallowing, your doctor will usually rule out any type of obstruction by having an upper endoscopy or barium x-rays performed. If no obstruction is found, your doctor may order a manometric evaluation. Manometry can be used to establish the diagnosis of swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) when no obstruction, such as strictures, can be found.A manometry may be ordered if antireflux surgery is being considered, for preoperative assessment of the muscular contractions of the esophagus.
When Would Your Doctor Not Order a Manometry?
A manometry is not used for diagnostic purposes when gastroesophageal reflux disease is suspected.Manometry is not used as an initial test for finding the cause of chest pain or esophageal symptoms. Other diagnostic tests, such as an upper endoscopy or barium x-rays, are ordered first. If these tests do not reveal a cause of symptoms, then your doctor may consider a manometry.
How Is a Manometry Performed?
In preparation for the test, you shouldn't have anything to eat or drink for 8 hours before the test.During esophageal manometry, a thin, pressure-sensitive tube is passed through your mouth or nose, down your esophagus and into your stomach.
When the tube is in your esophagus, you will be asked to swallow. The pressure of the muscle contractions in your esophagus will be measured in different sections of the tube.
The test takes approximately an hour, and after completed, the tube is removed.
Sources:
"American Gastroenterological Association medical Position Statement: Clinical Use of Esophageal Manometry." National Guideline Clearinghouse Date Modified: 3/9/2009 18 Mar 2009
Michael F. Vaezi, M.D., Ph.D., and Joel E. Richter, M.D., "Diagnosis and Management of Achalasia." The American College of Gastroenterology 18 Mar 2009
