Services

Motility studies

We offer a full range of high-resolution manometry studies and diagnostic tests. Manometry is a tool that measures pressure and muscle coordination in the gut, and different studies measure different areas. These studies assess how well your child’s gastrointestinal tract is functioning all along its path and determine if the nerves and muscles in the digestive tract are coordinated to allow normal peristalsis (contractions). These tests allow us to help identify the dysfunction and make treatment recommendations to improve your child’s quality of life. Studies include:

• Anorectal manometry (high-resolution, including 3-D). A quick study that measures how well muscles and nerves in the rectum and anus are working. A catheter (small, flexible tube) is used to record muscle contractions and nerve activity. It does not require sedation and takes approximately 15 minutes.
• Antroduodenal manometry. An in-depth evaluation that requires a hospital stay and general anesthesia. It measures waves of pressure in your child’s stomach and intestines. A catheter with sensors is inserted through your child’s nose and is threaded to the stomach and into the small intestine through an endoscopy. Once your child awakes, the catheter is connected to a computer, which records findings for 24 hours.
• Colonic manometry. An in-depth evaluation that requires a hospital stay and general anesthesia. With this test, a catheter is placed in your child’s colon to measure activity. Once the catheter is in place, medications and meals are given at intervals over several hours to see how the colon responds.
• Esophageal manometry with impedance. This study does not require sedation to measure the function of the esophagus—the tube that connects the throat and stomach. It determines if your child has normal nerve and muscle function for swallowing. Your child’s doctor will insert a catheter with sensors into your child’s nose. A machine records contractions while your child swallows water or food. The test takes approximately 40 minutes.
• EndoFLIP. Short for endoluminal functional lumen imaging probe, this minimally invasive device is used to evaluate your child’s gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The EndoFLIP is cutting-edge technology that measures stiffness inside the esophagus and other GI organs. Under general anesthesia during a hospital stay, a doctor inserts a catheter with sensors to read GI tract activity to help diagnose esophageal conditions, swallowing problems, and more.
• EsoFLIP dilation. Short for esophageal dilation with impedance planimetry, this advanced diagnostic imaging device lets doctors see in real time how your child’s esophagus dilates. The study, which often requires general anesthesia in an outpatient setting, uses a balloon to dilate your child’s esophagus for viewing. It helps treat narrowing of the esophagus, difficulty swallowing, and other conditions.
• 24-hour pH-impedance probe. If your child suffers from acid reflux or other similar conditions, they may benefit from this test, which does not require sedation or anesthesia. It measures pH levels (acidity and alkalinity) and how fluid moves in the esophagus. During this short, in-office procedure, a probe is inserted in your child’s nose, which travels to the esophagus. The probe records data used to analyze your child’s symptoms for approximately 24 hours as they go about their day.
• IB-Stim. This FDA-approved device for children ages 8 to 21 helps treat abdominal pain that can accompany certain gastrointestinal (GI) disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The IB-Stim unit, which does not require sedation or anesthesia, is placed behind the ear and resembles a hearing aid. It has three small lead wires that are placed around the ear to send safe, gentle electrical impulses to the part of the brain that processes pain. It is worn for five days at a time and serves as an alternative or additional therapy to medicines. IB-Stim is currently only offered at a few children’s hospitals in the nation.

Telehealth visits

We are happy to provide a virtual motility telehealth consultation prior to an in-person evaluation. Telehealth visits help us care for patients throughout California and many of those located out of state.