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Risks
By Mayo Clinic staffEsophageal manometry is generally safe, and complications are rare. But as with any medical procedure, it does carry a risk of complications.
During esophageal manometry, you may experience:
- Gagging when the tube passes into your throat
- Watery eyes
- Slight nosebleed
- Discomfort in your nose and throat
After esophageal manometry, you may have some mild side effects, including:
- Sore throat
- Stuffy nose
- Minor nosebleed
Rarely, severe complications may include:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Stomach contents flowing back into your esophagus, which you breathe into your lungs (aspiration)
- A hole in your esophagus (perforation)
References
- Understanding esophageal manometry. American Society for Gastronintestinal Endoscopy. http://www.asge.org/PatientInfoIndex.aspx?id=6822. Accessed April 23, 2012.
- Lembo AJ et al. Motility testing: When does it help? http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed April 23, 2012.
- American Gastroenterological Association. AGA technical review on the clinical use of esophageal manometry. Gastroenterology. 2005;128:209.
- Ask Mayo Expert. Esophageal manometry. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2012.
- Falk GW et al. Goldman: Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Saunders, Elsevier, 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-1604-7..00140-8&isbn=978-1-4377-1604-7&sid=1300780111&uniqId=331154314-3#4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-1604-7..00140-8--s0050
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