There are three main types of manometry: esophageal, anorectal, and rhinomanometry. Each is used to measure the function of a specific part of the body. These tests are used during the diagnosis of certain medical conditions in both children and adults.
An esophageal manometry involves the use of a long tube that is inserted through the nasal cavities and into the stomach. There are special sensors in various parts of this tube and they are used to measure the effectiveness of esophageal contractions from the throat to the stomach. This is beneficial when diagnosing or finding a cause for conditions such as acid reflux disease. Patients receive a mild local anesthetic to prevent any pain from occurring, although mild discomfort is common. They are also asked to drink a small amount of water or another liquid to assess how well the esophagus is working.
The sensors in the tube are connected to a computer; The computer reads the readings from each sensor and a diagnostic reading is calculated. Although not the only method for diagnosing the health of the esophagus, monometry is useful in determining the cause of existing symptoms in some patients.
An anorectal manometry is similar in practice to an esophageal manometry. In this case, a tube is inserted into the rectum and fluid is fed through it to measure contractions of the rectal sphincter and colon. The tube is usually long enough to reach the colon, in order to measure the muscular strength of all the muscles required for fecal compaction and elimination. The sensors are present as in an esophageal manometry, and the results are deciphered in the same way.
The use of an anorectal manometry is more common in children than in adults. This is because certain conditions that affect the colon and rectal sphincter muscles occur more often in young children and correct themselves during this time. This does not mean that a manometry cannot be beneficial in adults, as there are certain conditions and injuries that may require it.
A rhinomanometry is another form of test that is performed to determine the airflow of the nasal cavities. It is done by placing a probe at the end of the nostril, secured with adhesive tape. Patients wear a mask over their faces during the test and breathe through their nose for several minutes. Sometimes a sensor is placed towards the back of the nasal cavity and airflow is controlled in this way. As with the previous two tests, the probe or sensor enters data into a computer for reading.