Oesophageal Manometry

The oesophagus is an important organ that allows food to travel from the mouth into the stomach for digestion. Occasionally, the muscles in the oesophagus may not function appropriately and as a result, patients can experience symptoms such as difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), pain on swallowing (odynophagia), chest pain, belching or even regurgitation of food that has already been swallowed. Oesophageal manometry assesses the strength and coordination of these muscles to help identify any abnormalities.

At the beginning of the test, an anaesthetic spray is used to numb the nose and the back of your throat. A thin catheter is then passed into the nostril, down the oesophagus into the stomach, and secured in place. You will be asked to take a few swallows of water in both the upright position and whilst lying on your side. You may also be asked to swallow some solid food. Measurements from the pressures sensors on the catheter will be recorded by a computer.

You will need to fast (no food and water) for 6 hours prior to the test. All of your essential medications can still be taken with small sips of water on the day of the exam.

As oesophageal manometry does not require any sedation, you will be able to drive both prior to and after your appointment.