Esophageal Manometry (Motility Study) in Thibodaux, LA
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Find a ProviderWhat is an esophageal motility study?
An esophageal manometry, also known as an esophageal motility study, is a test conducted to evaluate the contractile function of the esophagus. To perform this procedure, a thin and bendable catheter will be inserted into to nose and snaked down to the esophagus. Digestive Health Center gastroenterology specialists often suggest an esophageal motility study prior to an esophageal surgery or to help diagnose the reason for:
- Regurgitation
- Difficulty swallowing
- Severe gastroesophageal reflux
- Pain in the chest area
- Esophageal spasm
To visit a GI specialist who can administer an esophageal manometry or motility assessment in Thibodaux, LA, please get in touch with your nearest location to request a consultation.
What can I expect the day before my esophageal motility study?
Prior to an esophageal motility study, you will get instructions and information from your Digestive Health Center doctor regarding any necessary preparation. Most often, you should be able to eat normally the day prior to the evaluation. However, you will be asked not to eat any food or beverages by mouth after midnight apart from medications. It is highly imperative to follow these instructions and any other information given to you by your provider. Further instructions regarding medications you might be taking will also be discussed. In the majority of situations, your medication regimen can be continued as usual. Please note, though, that if you take anticoagulants, (i.e. Plavix®, warfarin, Coumadin®, anti-inflammatories, aspirin) or are diabetic, specific instructions will be provided.
What can I expect on the day of the esophageal motility test?
On the day of your esophageal motility test, you will be asked to come to the endoscopy facility half an hour prior to the exam. This is to provide you time to fill out patient forms and get prepped for the assessment.
When you enter the treatment room, you will lie on an exam table. Either your left or right nostril will be numbed with lidocaine. A member of our healthcare team will then gently guide a slender tube into the nostril and move it down to your esophagus. As the device is positioned into the esophagus, you will be required to swallow to open the esophageal area. Your GI provider will initially situate the tube to evaluate the contractile ability of your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle. We will then gauge the squeeze of the muscles of the esophagus. During this stage of the test, you will be prompted to drink 10 – 20 sips of water. Once this is done, you will have finished the evaluation and the catheter will be withdrawn. In most instances, the evaluation will be completed in around 30 – 60 minutes.
Because there is no sedation for the study, you will be able to leave the endoscopy unit once your procedure is complete. In most situations, you should be able to resume your normal eating habits once you leave the office, however, specific instructions surrounding medications, physical activity, and eating will be provided before discharge.
When will I receive the results of my esophageal manometry test?
It will take our computer system a little bit to construct graphs and charts from the data acquired throughout your evaluation, so your results will not be ready while you are still at the endoscopy unit. You will most likely be contacted by your provider or another member from our Thibodaux, LA team within a week with the esophageal motility study conclusions. We encourage you to ask any questions you have about the results — we are here to help!
Are there any risks of an esophageal manometry test?
Esophageal motility studies are generally a safe procedure. Complications are, of course, a possibility but are typically only seen in less than 1% of patients. In most cases, any complications are not fatal. If a complication does occur, it may require surgery and hospitalization. Before we perform the procedure, a consent form will be discussed with you by someone from our team at Digestive Health Center.
Puncturing or piercing of the esophageal tissues is highly uncommon but can happen. This might be identified at the time of the procedure, or it may not be apparent until further into the day. In most cases, a perforation will lead to a hospital stay and surgery for repair.
It is vital that you contact our office right away in the event symptoms or issues occur in the wake of your exam, such as worsening abdominal pain, bleeding, or fever.
Like any other evaluation, an esophageal motility study is not flawless. There is a slight, accepted risk that health concerns may be missed during the evaluation. It is imperative to continue to visit your provider per their recommendations and discuss with them any new or persistent symptoms.
What are alternatives to an esophageal motility study?
To an extent, the alternatives to the esophageal morality study will be based on the reason behind needing to undergo the evaluation in the first place. For most patients, the esophageal motility assessment is the ideal way to assess the muscle function of the esophagus. However, an esophagram, either by itself or coupled with an upper GI/barium swallow procedure, can also can enable doctors to assess the esophagus. If you're curious about these alternatives and if they would work for you, please feel free to ask your GI specialist or another one of our team members.
An esophageal manometry to evaluate conditions
In the event you or a member of your family notices issues such as difficulty swallowing, chest pain, or regurgitation, then an esophageal manometry procedure may help you gain a deeper understanding of the problem. With this study, your GI GI specialist can identify how to diagnose and treat the issue. At Digestive Health Center, we are proud to offer this evaluation to help you find relief from your gastroenterology symptoms. As a skilled group of GI physicians, we proudly take a patient-first approach that allows us to provide the highest standard of care. To discover more about esophageal manometry in Thibodaux, LA, please contact your nearest location today to request a consultation.
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