[The value of ambulatory 24-hour esophageal manometry in the diagnosis of retrosternal pain of non-cardiac origin].
The clinical relevance of a system of ambulatory 24-hour oesophageal pressure and pH recording with automated data analysis was investigated in 33 unselected patients with non-cardiac chest pain. After conventional manometry with edrophonium (Tensilon) provocation, 24-hour oesophageal pH and pressure monitoring was performed. In 17 patients conventional manometry, edrophonium provocation and 24-hour pH recording revealed an oesophageal origin of the symptoms: 6 patients had oesophageal motility disorders, 3 were positive responders to edrophonium and 8 had chest pain associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux. In none of the patients who had a pain attack during prolonged oesophageal pressure recording, was a new motility disorder detected.