Small-bowel motility disturbances: A comparison of small-bowel series and antroduodenal manometry

Rationale and Objectives. The authors' purpose was to compare the findings of small-bowel series with those of antroduodenal manometry to determine wh ether normal findings from a small-bowel series would make it unnecessary t o perform antroduodenal manometry. Materials and Methods. The findings from 33 small-bowel series performed on patients who had undergone antroduodenal. manometry were retrospectively r eviewed for abnormalities, including dilatation, transit time, fold thicken ing, and increased fluid. Antroduodenal manometry findings were classified into the following categories: normal, myopathy, neuropathy, obstructions, or nonspecific conditions. Results. Nine of 12 patients with specific abnormalities at antroduodenal m anometry had abnormal results from the small-bowel series. Of seven patient s with normal small-bowel series results, three had abnormal antroduodenal manometry results-two had previously undergone vagotomy with neuropathic ch anges and one had myopathic changes. Conclusion. Small-bowel series and antroduodenal manometry are complementar y examinations. Only a small number of patients with normal small-bowel ser ies results will have abnormal results at antroduodenal manometry. A large number of patients with motility abnormalities have a combination of nonspe cific changes, such as dilatation and increased fluid, at a small-bowel ser ies.