Studies in esophageal motility: five year clinical experience in a Canadian tertiary care hospital.

ABSTRACT

A total of 661 esophageal motility studies were performed in 568 patients over a five year period in a tertiary care hospital. Patients referred for investigation generally presented with one of three symptoms dysphagia, reflux or chest pain. Dysphagia was more closely identified with organic esophageal dysfunction than other symptoms. Normal studies were recorded in 201 instances (30%). Studies demonstrating either a major or minor non-specific motor disorder were found in 380 cases (58%). Achalasia was found in 48 patients who underwent 65 procedures (10%). Scleroderma was diagnosed in 7 patients (1%). Elderly patients were not found to have diminished esophageal function when compared to a young group.