HRM Consensus Group

The findings of conventional oesophageal manometry as categorized by current classification systems fail to provide a definitive diagnosis or explain the causes of symptoms in the majority of patients referred for investigation.

High resolution manometry (HRM) provides detailed and functionally relevant information about oesophageal motility and function. This information has provided new insights into the physiologic basis of oesophageal function in health and disease.

The HRM Consensus Group was founded to work towards a classification system that:

• Defines oesophageal dysmotility in terms of its objective effects on function
• Provides a clear explanation of oesophageal symptoms
• Identifies abnormal oesophageal motor activity and function that is amenable to specific treatment

This website allows researchers and clinicians working with HRM to get involved with this process. Registered members can take part in on-line studies and upload interesting cases that challenge the existing classification scheme. Active members will be invited to join meetings of the Consensus Group to review study findings, discuss the issues and, we hope, reach consensus on a classification system that both reflects the pathophysiology of oesophageal disease and guides effective clinical management.

Funding

The HRM consensus group is supported by the American, European and International Neurogastroenterology & Motility Societies. No financial support is provided by the biomedical industry; however advances in clinical measurement are driven by technical innovation and Sierra Scientific Instruments, MMS and Sandhill attend meetings as ‘observers’

 The HRM consensus group was convened in San Diego at the DDW 2008. Follow-up meetings have taken place in Luzern at the 2nd Joint International Meeting of Neurogastroenterology and Motility and in Chicago. Important advances have been made to establish the technique in the research and clinical setting including publication of: a major review of HRM in clinical practice, a provisional classification system for HRM findings and a glossary of technical terms for researchers and clinicians.