How does oesophageal manometry work?
Your oesophagus moves food from your throat down to your stomach with a wave-like motion called peristalsis. Manometry will indicate how well the oesophagus can perform peristalsis. Manometry also allows your doctor to examine the muscular valve connecting the oesophagus with the stomach, called the lower oesophageal sphincter or LES. This valve relaxes to allow food and liquid to enter the stomach. It closes to prevent food and liquid from moving out of the stomach and back up the oesophagus. Abnormalities with peristalsis and LES function may cause symptoms such as difficulty with swallowing, heartburn or chest pain. Information obtained from manometry may help doctors to identify the problem. The information is also very important for antireflux surgery.
