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[Thoracic pain and esophageal motility disorders]
1Policlinique médicale universitaire, Division de Gastroentérologie CHUV/PMU, Lausanne.
Schweizerische Rundschau Fur Medizin Praxis = Revue Suisse De Medecine Praxis
|February 5, 1991
Summary
Diagnosing chest pain involves excluding cardiac and esophageal diseases. If cardiac causes are ruled out, gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophageal motility disorders are investigated using pH-metry and manometry.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Clinical Medicine
Context:
- Chest pain is a common clinical problem.
- Cardiac causes must be excluded first.
- Esophageal disorders are increasingly recognized as a cause of chest pain.
Purpose:
- To define the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to esophageal causes of chest pain.
- To highlight the role of pH-metry and manometry.
Summary:
- After excluding cardiac and organic esophageal lesions, physicians should investigate gastroesophageal reflux disease using 24-hour pH-metry and esophageal manometry.
- Esophageal motility disorders, such as diffuse esophageal spasm, can be diagnosed with manometry and provocation tests.
- Identifying the esophageal origin of chest pain aids diagnosis and treatment.
Impact:
- Improved diagnostic accuracy for non-cardiac chest pain.
- Enhanced therapeutic strategies for patients with esophageal disorders.
- Reduced unnecessary investigations for cardiac conditions.