ERGOMETRINE PROVOCATION IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF OESOPHAGEALSPASM

. Twenty-two patients with chest pain and normal coronary angiograms were given intravenously ergometrine while oesophageal manometry was being carried out. Thirteen of the patients had neither pain nor significant motility disturbance after ergometrine. Ergometrine provocation enabled a diagnosis to be made in nine patients in whom routine investigations of the oesophagus were normal.