Esophageal Manometry at Atlantic Medical Group Gastroenterology

Motility disorders of the esophagus can present in various ways including trouble swallowing, pain with swallowing, non-cardiac chest pain, regurgitation, coughing, or frequent belching. To diagnose and guide treatment for esophageal motility disorders, we offer high-resolution esophageal manometry.

The test usually takes 15 minutes to perform and does not require anesthesia (you can drive yourself to and from the procedure). You will be asked not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the night before your test.

How the test is performed:

• An esophageal manometry catheter is a sophisticated catheter with 36 pressure sensors that extend the length of the catheter
• This catheter is inserted through your nose (after applying numbing ointment) and down your esophagus with the tip of the catheter ending in your stomach.
• You are then asked to swallow a small amount of saline (salt water) 10-15 times as the catheter sensors measure the movement of muscles in your esophagus.
• The catheter is connected to a computer that provides a detailed map of your esophagus. Your physician will analyze this map to determine if you have an esophageal motility disorder and, if so, which one.

Examples of esophageal motility disorders that can be diagnosed by esophageal manometry include:

• Achalasia
• Distal esophageal spam
• Hypercontractile (“jackhammer”) esophagus
• Ineffective esophageal motility 
• Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction
• Absent contractility