What Is Esophageal Manometry?

If you find that you have difficulty swallowing or are experiencing esophageal reflux and chest pain, you may benefit from a test called esophageal manometry. Esophageal monometry is a test done on an outpatient basis to measure the effectiveness of the muscles in the esophagus to move food along the path to your stomach.

The esophagus moves food through a method called peristalsis. Just as the ocean waves moves seaweed to the Florida shore, peristaltic muscles contract and relax employing a wave-like motion to move food in the esophagus down to the stomach. When the smooth muscles that perform the process weaken, food can get caught in the esophagus and cause problems such as heartburn and chest pain.

Esophageal monometry is a simple test that uses a tube inserted through the nose and down along the posterior wall of the esophagus and then into the stomach. The small one quarter inch tube will then measure the rate of contractions performed by the smooth muscles in the esophagus and deliver the results in graph form on a print out or computer monitor.

While the tube is inserted the patient will be asked to swallow sips of water while lying on their left side. Swallowing the water will begin peristalsis which can then be analyzed by the machine. After about 30 or 40 minutes the tube is then withdrawn and a gastroenterologist or other physician specializing in stomach and intestinal disorders and gastroesophageal reflux disease will analyze the results.

Preparing for esophageal manometry is very simple. It is important to inform the physician if you suffer from heart disorders, are currently pregnant or are taking any medications that may inhibit or interfere with the examination. Some medications that interfere with esophageal manometry are H2 blockers, antacids, nitrates, proton pump inhibitors, beta blockers and caffeine. The physician can inform you of what medications you can and cannot take prior to the test. You may also want to inquire about what you are allowed to eat prior to the test and how long you should fast before the exam.

Following the exam patients can resume their normal diet, medications and regular activities. The test may irritate the throat. Sore throat lozenges or gargling with salt water can help relieve the discomfort. If any other abnormal symptoms occur after the exam, patients should contact their physician or go to an urgent care facility or emergency room.