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 whether normal findings from a small-bowel series would make it unnecessary to perform antroduodenal manometry. Materials and Methods. The findings from 33 small-bowel series performed on patients who had undergone antroduodenal manometry were retrospectively reviewed for abnormalities, including dilatation, transit time, fold thickening, 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 manometry had abnormal results from the small-bowel series. Of seven patients with normal small-bowel series results, three had abnormal antroduodenal manometry results - two had previously undergone vagotomy with neuropathic changes and one had myopathic changes. Conclusion. Small-bowel series and antroduodenal manometry are complementary examinations. Only a small number of patients with normal small-bowel series results will have abnormal results at antroduodenal manometry. A large number of patients with motility abnormalities have a combination of nonspecific changes, such as dilatation and increased fluid, at a small-bowel series.