Clinical relevance of antroduodenal manometry.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of antroduodenal manometry studies and their effect on the clinical treatment of patients.

Design: A retrospective review of clinical antroduodenal manometric studies performed between September 1990 and March 1997 (n = 109).

Setting: Tertiary referral centre.

Main Outcome Measures: The predominant symptom, the indication for the study, the outcome and the clinical impact were scored. A positive impact was defined as an outcome that resulted in an alteration of the management of the patient (medication, surgery, feeding), established a new diagnosis, or resulted in new investigations or in referral to another specialist.

Results: Full records were obtained from 91 studies in 85 patients (mean age 43 years). Nausea and vomiting were the most predominant symptoms (37.4%). In 49.5% of the cases, the test was performed due to suspicion of a generalized motor disorder. A normal outcome was found in 37 studies. Non-specific motor abnormalities were reported in 72% of the studies with an abnormal outcome. Pseudo-obstruction was diagnosed in 20%. The manometric studies resulted in a new therapy in 12.6%, a new diagnosis in 14.9%, and referral to another specialist in 8%. A positive clinical impact was found in 28.7% of the patients.

Conclusion: Antroduodenal manometry can be a helpful diagnostic technique in a specialized centre. More research is needed to gain insight into the significance of the large number of non-specific abnormalities that are often found.