esophageal balloon distension

Indications

• evaluation of non-cardiac chest pain

Clinical significance

• pain associated with esophageal dilation suggests esophageal source of chest pain

Procedure

• a polyvinyl balloon (length 30 mm; maximum diameter after 10 mL distension 25 mm) is positioned 10 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter & inflated with 1-mL increments of air to a total volume of 10 mL
• pain response is recorded along with associated balloon volumes

More general terms

• esophageal dilation; bougienage
• provocative clinical test