The Pain System in Oesophageal Disorders: Mechanisms, Clinical Characteristics, and Treatment

Figure 6

The multimodal probe. The probe is placed in the lower oesophagus with the bag located 8 cm above the oesophagogastric junction. The probe can be used to give painful stimuli by mechanical inflation of the bag with saline, giving a weak electrical shock or circulating heated or cold water inside the probe. Hyperalgesia can be evoked with acid and/or capsaicin infusions through a hole proximal to the bag. This way, the oesophageal sensitivity to different pain modalities can be investigated in one procedure.