This test will involve the placement of a small catheter through your nasal passage, or nostril, and then swallowed into your esophagus with drinks of water. The catheter is a bit thicker than the power cord for a smartphone. You will be able to swallow, talk and breathe without any difficulty during the test. We will record the movement and pressures of your esophagus as you drink small amounts of water. Your appointment will take about 1 hour. The tube will be in your nose and down your esophagus for 15 to 20 minutes.

This test will be run in the GI Physiology Laboratory in the Medical Procedures Unit, located at University Hospital level 2B353.

To make an appointment for esophageal manometry or other GI procedure, call the Medical Procedures Unit at 877-758-2626. If you are unable to keep your appointment or if you have questions regarding the test or medications, please call the GI Physiology Lab in the MPU at 734-936-9250, option 2.

You should not eat or drink after midnight the night before your test when scheduled for a morning appointment. If scheduled for an afternoon appointment, you may have clear liquids until 9 a.m. on the day of your exam, then nothing by mouth after that time. Your doctor might additionally recommend fasting except for clear liquids at least 24 hours before the procedure. You can take most of your typical morning medications with small sips of water. Please notify the nurse if you have diabetes and take insulin.

Immediately following the procedure, you can leave. You do not need a driver for this procedure as there is no sedation. Your doctor will receive the final results of the procedure in about 1 week, and will communicate the results to you.

Esophageal manometry is very safe. You will likely feel some discomfort in the nose and throat, but this is temporary and mild. Rarely, there could be a nose bleed as a result of the procedure. Extremely rarely, there could be a tear in the wall of the esophagus, throat or lung.