Gastrointestinal Motility Center
The Jefferson Gastrointestinal Motility Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, under the direction of Anthony J. DiMarino, Jr., MD, offers several high-quality diagnostic tests to help you accurately evaluate the symptoms of your patients. As part of the Jefferson Digestive Disease Service, we are a fully modern facility that has a proven track record of performing reliable, individualized tests for a large number of patients. Please allow me to take this opportunity to highlight some useful information about the tests we provide:
24-Hour Ambulatory pH Monitoring is considered the "gold-standard" for diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux. This test is particularly useful in diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux in patients with atypical presentations, such as noncardiac chest pain, laryngitis, asthma, and other respiratory disorders. This test is also indicated in some patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease to assess response to therapy. Our state-of-the-art system allows for the simultaneous assessment of proximal esophageal, distal esophageal, and gastric pH to most accurately measure the degree of reflux.

Esophageal Manometry measures the muscular contractions in the esophagus, including the swallowing mechanism and the lower esophageal sphincter. It is the test-of-choice for diagnosing motility disorders that cause difficulty swallowing. Esophageal manometry is also used to identify esophageal causes of noncardiac chest pain, and to assess esophageal motility in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, collagen-vascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and neuromuscular disorders. Our solid-state system allows us to study the upper esophageal sphincter and swallowing mechanisms, as well as the lower esophageal sphincter and esophageal body, without the drawbacks of older water-perfused systems.

Tensilon Provocative Testing is performed in conjunction with an esophageal manometry to identify patients with an esophageal cause of noncardiac chest pain.

Bernstein Testing (acid infusion testing) can be useful in confirming that gastroesophageal reflux is the cause of a patient's chest pain.

Anorectal Motility Testing allows the determination of anorectal sensorimotor dysfunction in patients complaining of constipation, fecal incontinence or abdominal pain. It also provides valuable information about the clinical outcome of surgical candidates who may be at risk of manifesting incontinence postsurgically. Anorectal motility testing is useful in making the following diagnoses:

• normal continence and defecatory function
• Hirschprung's disease
• impaired rectal sensation
• functional outlet obstruction
• hypotensive resting tone of the anal canal
• weak external anal sphincter or puborectalis
• altered visceral sensation suggestive or irritable bowel syndrome

Anorectal Biofeedback Therapy has been successful (>90%) in treating patients from infancy to old age with complaints of fecal incontinence or pelvic floor dyssynergia.
is an important test in assessing motility disorders of the biliary system that can cause abdominal pain. Specifically, biliary manometry is useful in making the diagnosis of biliary dyskinesia. This test is performed as part of an ERCP.

All tests can be quickly and easily scheduled and are performed by highly skilled professionals. The tests must be ordered by a physician and the results are readily available and will be promptly reported to your physician's office.

To schedule a patient for testing at the Jefferson Gastrointestinal Motility Center, or for more information, please call us at 215-955-7683. Our hours are flexible to best accommodate your needs. Our fax number is 215-955-6322. The Center is located on the fourth floor of Jefferson's Main Building at 10th and Sansom Streets in Center City, Philadelphia.