Manometry

In medicine, manometry is a study performed to examine the pression of one part of the body, generally the muscle function of the esophagus. A technician places a small catheter into the nose and guides it into the stomach. Once placed, the catheter is slowly withdrawn, allowing it to detect pressure changes and to record information for later review. The patient rests quietly and will be asked at various times to take a deep breath or to take some swallows of water. The procedure typically causes only minimal discomfort, and usually takes 40 minutes or less.