GI Laboratory

The GI laboratory at the Institute houses the Heartburn and Digestive Motility Centers. These facilities perform state of the art specialized diagnostic studies in heartburn research and gastrointestinal motility. Studies performed include esophageal motility, 24-hour esophageal pH testing, Bernstein Acid Perfusion test, anorectal motility, anorectal pressure profile, perianal EMG, defecation physiology, and electrogastrography. These diagnostic tests allow an assessment of physiologic abnormalities related to a wide variety of common gastrointestinal complaints such as chronic heartburn and acid reflux disease, swallowing difficulties, chronic constipation, fecal incontinence, and chronic abdominal pain.

The professional staff of the laboratory is composed of William C. Orr, Ph.D. and Michael Reif, M.D., (surgery). Dr. Orr has over 20 years of experience in the conduct and interpretation of gastrointestinal motility studies and has also published extensively on acid reflux disorders and irritable bowel syndrome.

Click on the procedures below for more specific patient information/preparations.

24-hour pH Study

Anorectal Manometry

Bernstein Acid Perfusion

Esophageal Motility