HREM

High-Resolution Esophageal Manometry
Oesophagal manometry is a procedure that measures the strength and function of the muscles in your oesophagus (the “food pipe”) that work to push food and liquids from the mouth down to the stomach.

An oesophagal motility study (EMS) or oesophagal manometry is a test to assess motor function of Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES), oesophagal body and Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). An EMS is typically done to evaluate suspected disorders of motility or peristalsis of the oesophagus. These include GERD, achalasia cardia, diffuse oesophagal spasm, Jackhammer oesophagus and hypertensive lower oesophagal sphincter. These disorders typically present with dysphagia or difficulty swallowing, usually both solids and liquids. Other patients with spasm disorders may have the test done to diagnose chest pain thought not to be of a cardiac cause.

Procedure :
A technician places a catheter into the nose and then guides it into the stomach. Once placed in the stomach lining, the catheter is slowly withdrawn, allowing it to detect pressure changes and to record information for later review. The patient will be asked at times to take a deep breath or to take some swallows of water. The degree of discomfort varies among patients. Patients are not sedated because sedatives would alter the functioning of the oesophagal muscles. Overall the procedure takes about 20 minutes. After the procedure is complete, patients can usually resume their normal daily activities.