OESOPHAGEAL CONDITIONS
Diagnosing Dysphagia
Swallowing is a complex process that may be disrupted by any number of different conditions. Because dysphagia has so many potential causes, your doctor may use a variety of different tests. A physical exam combined with further testing, along with discussing your symptoms and history may be required to identify the underlying cause of your swallowing problem.
How is Dysphagia diagnosed?
During the assessment, your physician will want to know the following:
- How long you’ve had symptoms
- Whether your symptoms come and go or are getting worse
- Whether you’re having trouble swallowing solids, liquids, or both
- Whether you've lost weight
While the physical exam and symptom assessment may be enough to reach an initial diagnosis of dysphagia, further testing is required to identify the underlying cause of your swallowing problem.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
Swallowing Study
In a swallowing study, your physician will have you swallow barium-coated foods of various consistencies. The barium coating makes the foods visible on an x-ray as you chew and swallow. Your physician can watch the food as it moves from your mouth and oesophagus into your stomach, identifying any issues that may be interfering with your swallowing process.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
Oesophageal Manometry
Oesophageal manometry is a test that measures pressure inside your oesophagus to determine whether it’s working properly. During the procedure, a catheter with pressure sensors is inserted through your nose down your oesophagus and into your stomach. The sensors measure the rhythmic muscle contractions that occur inside your oesophagus when you chew and swallow. This provides diagnostic information about the movement (motility) of food through your oesophagus.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
Endoscopy
An oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) is an endoscopy of your upper gastrointestinal tract. In an OGD procedure, your physician passes an endoscope (a flexible tube with a small camera attached to the end) down the length of your oesophagus to diagnose symptoms in your upper GI tract. An OGD is typically performed under sedation.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
Impedance Planimetry System
An impedance planimetry system simplifies your path to diagnosis when you are struggling with problems swallowing. Impedance planimetry is a minimally-invasive endoscopic tool that helps identify motility disorders by providing real-time dimension measurements in the oesophagus.
