Physicians performing manometry in children must have great patience. The patient's cooperation can, however, be improved by the use of age-appropriate relaxation techniques. For example, infants relax with swaddling and use of a pacifier. Toddlers are comforted by having a favorite blanket or toy. School-age children benefit from being allowed to handle and examine equipment before the procedure.
Adolescents benefit from a thorough review of what to expect before the procedure.
Recording artifacts are common in the pediatric patient and occur more commonly than in adults. These recommendations are subject to change on the basis of periodic review of subsequent research. Esophageal manometry can be useful to evaluate symptoms or signs of esophageal dysfunction, such as dysphagia, odynophagia, chest pain, aspiration, and recurrent food impaction. Esophageal manometry can be useful to locate the upper and lower esophageal sphincters for esophageal pH monitoring. Esophageal manometry is generally not useful in the diagnosis or medical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease or structural lesions of the esophagus.