The procedure takes about one hour from start to finish. While seated in a chair or lying on the side, thin soft tubing is gently passed through the nose, or occasionally the mouth. Upon swallowing, the tip of the tube enters the esophagus and the technician then quickly passes it down to the desired level. There is usually some slight gagging at this point, but it is easily controlled by following instructions. Pressure recordings are made and the tubing is withdrawn.
Patients can usually resume regular activity, eating, and medicines immediately after the exam.
Results To a layperson, the contractile pattern of the esophagus looks like a chaotic, wiggling line. However, the tracing has very specific meanings depending on how the esophagus contracts and exerts pressure through the tube into the manometry machine. A normal pattern may be seen where the esophagus has regular, sweeping contraction waves and excellent function of the valve at the end of the esophagus. A common abnormal pattern results when the lower esophageal valve is weak and does not close properly. This allows food and acid to reflux up into the food pipe.