RT Book, Section
A1 Blatnik, Jeffrey A.
A1 Ponsky, Jeffrey L.
A2 Zinner, Michael J.
A2 Ashley, Stanley W.
A2 Hines, O. Joe
SR Print(0)
ID 1160039438
T1 Achalasia and Other Motility Disorders
T2 Maingot's Abdominal Operations, 13e
YR 2019
FD 2019
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071843072
LK accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1160039438
RD 2023/03/25
AB Esophageal  motility  is  a  complex  and  multifactorial  process  that  functions  to  pass  food  and  liquid  through  the  esophagus.  Using  systematic  contractions  in  the  esophageal  body,  combined  with  an  appropriately  timed  relaxation  of  the  lower  esophageal  sphincter  (LES),  the  bolus  is  able  to  pass  from  the  esophagus  into  the  stomach.  Errors  in  the  process  can  occur  anywhere  along  this  chain  of  events  and  can  lead  to  significant  morbidity  for  patients.  The  constellation  of  presenting  symptoms  includes  dysphagia,  chest  pain,  and  reflux.  Due  to  these  often  vague  symptoms,  many  patients  undergo  multiple  other  therapies  prior  to  being  diagnosed  with  an  esophageal  motility  disorder  and  ultimately  go  on  to  further  treatment.  It  is  reasonable  to  start  with  a  short  course  of  acid  suppression  therapy  in  patients;  however,  when  their  symptoms  fail  to  improve,  this  should  prompt  additional  workup.