Esophageal Manometry During Recovery From Anesthesia: Pilot Study

This pilot study will examine esophageal manometry in patients emerging from routine general anesthesia. Manometry of the esophagus is not a standard part of surgery or general anesthesia. The investigators will be using standard solid state high resolution manometry. One of the authors (JPC) evaluates all routine manometry for patients undergoing such procedures at both UCSF and SFGH. The use of manometry in patients recovering from anesthesia will permit the investigators to assess the recovery of a normal swallowing mechanism. An adequate determination of return of normal swallowing sequence is likely to determine the safe time for extubation. The investigators propose to, as a research study, investigate esophageal motor function using standard high resolution esophageal manometry in 10 patients recovering from general anesthesia. These studies are likely to document that the return of normal pharyngoesophageal function will coordinate with verbal commands to initiate swallowing. This pilot study will help clarify the precise timing of the return of normal function in the oropharynx and the proximal esophagus and thus determine the safe time for removal of the endotracheal or nasotracheal intubation.