Esophageal motility
testing Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Esophageal motility testing determines how well the muscles
of the esophagus are working. For motility testing, a thin tube (catheter) is
passed through a nostril, down the back of the throat, and into the esophagus.
On the part of the catheter that is inside the esophagus are sensors that sense
pressure. A pressure is generated within the esophagus that is detected by the
sensors on the catheter when the muscle of the esophagus contracts. The end of
the catheter that protrudes from the nostril is attached to a recorder that
records the pressure. During the test, the pressure at rest and the relaxation
of the lower esophageal sphincter are evaluated.
Motility testing can identify some of these abnormalities
and lead to a diagnosis of an esophageal motility disorder. The second use is
evaluation prior to surgical or endoscopic treatment for Gastroesophageal
reflux disease.
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