Diagnostics · General Gastroenterology

Esophageal Manometry - Medical Experts

Here you will find selected medical experts and specialists in clinics and medical practices for the diagnosis, treatment, surgery and rehabilitation in the medical field Esophageal manometry. All listed physicians are specialists in their field and have been carefully selected for you according to strict guidelines.

Editor-in-ChiefSabine Schneider

Brief overview — the essentials first

Esophageal manometry is a procedure that measures pressure in the esophagus to assess its function. It is primarily used to diagnose achalasia, reflux, swallowing disorders, and other functional disorders. A probe is used to measure pressure conditions in the esophagus and the lower esophageal sphincter. The examination provides important information for diagnosis and further treatment.

Endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract is the first step in ruling out organic causes. Esophageal manometry is used when endoscopy or other imaging techniques do not provide information about disorders of the esophagus.

When is esophageal manometry recommended?

Esophageal manometry examines the swallowing process in the area of:

the upper and lower esophageal sphincters and
the esophagus (tubular esophagus)

Indications for esophageal manometry include:

Swallowing difficulties with normal gastroscopy results,
Evaluation of chest pain not caused by another condition, such as heart disease
Prior to a planned surgery for reflux disease
Unclear globus sensation
When involvement in another condition, such as rheumatism, is suspected

The pressure generated in the esophagus during swallowing is transmitted to the pressure measurement points. A computer records the pressure changes and displays them as a computer graphic.

Procedure for Esophageal Manometry

Esophageal manometry is a painless, though sometimes slightly uncomfortable, examination. During the procedure, doctors insert a thin catheter through the nose and down the esophagus into the stomach.

The examination is performed while the patient is seated. After an adjustment period, the patient is given small amounts of water to drink at regular intervals. The examination lasts 15 to 20 minutes.

Side effects are rare. Injuries may occur in the nasopharyngeal region, the esophagus, or the stomach.

What procedures are available?

In principle, two procedures are available:

Conventional perfusion manometry and
manometry using electronic pressure transducers

For “high-resolution manometry,” catheters with 36 measurement points are now available. This allows the probe to remain stationary in the esophagus during the swallowing process, eliminating the need for a pull-through procedure. The methods differ primarily in their technical design. All methods yield valid results.

Results of an esophageal manometry

Possible diagnoses include:

Esophageal disorders: such as esophageal achalasia, diffuse esophageal spasm, and hypertensive esophagus (nutcracker esophagus)

Secondary motility disorders: associated with other conditions. It is important to rule out these conditions before performing anti-reflux surgery for reflux disease.

Esophageal manometry