New technologies for the evaluation of esophageal motility disorders: impedance, high-resolution manometry, and intraluminal ultrasound.

New technologies have been introduced for studying esophageal function, including intraluminal impedance and ultrasound, whereas conventional techniques, such as manometry, have undergone substantial upgrades because of advances in transducer technology, computerization, and graphic data presentation. Although these techniques provide both novel and more detailed information regarding esophageal function, it is still unclear whether they have improved the ability to diagnose and treat patients more effectively. Regardless, they are innovative research tools and they have added substantially to the understanding of the pathophysiology of dysphagia and esophageal motor dysfunction. This article describes the technical aspects of each of these technologies and the potential benefits they offer over conventional techniques for the evaluation of esophageal motor diseases.