RT Book, Section A1 Burakoff, Robert A1 Chan, Walter W. A2 Sugarbaker, David J. A2 Bueno, Raphael A2 Colson, Yolonda L. A2 Jaklitsch, Michael T. A2 Krasna, Mark J. A2 Mentzer, Steven J. A2 Williams, Marcia A2 Adams, Ann SR Print(0) ID 1105839750 T1 Overview of Esophageal Motility Disorders T2 Adult Chest Surgery, 2e YR 2015 FD 2015 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 978-0-07-178189-3 LK accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1105839750 RD 2024/04/23 AB Primary esophageal motility disorders are characterized by abnormalities of esophageal peristalsis or contractions that interfere with swallowing and transit of food through the esophagus, producing symptoms of dysphagia and chest pain. The disorder is considered primary (idiopathic) when the cause of the patient's symptoms and altered motility cannot be attributed to other systemic diseases (e.g., diabetes mellitus, scleroderma, amyloidosis, or neuromuscular disorders that affect striated muscle). The classic presentation is achalasia, a disorder characterized by failure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to relax. There are several nonspecific esophageal motility disorders, including diffuse esophageal spasm (DES), nutcracker esophagus, ineffective esophageal motility (IEM), and other abnormalities of the LES. Whether these represent true disorders, a continuum of disease or merely abnormal motility patterns that are associated with but not the physiologic causes of symptoms remains a controversy (Table 33-1). Lack of a meaningful classification system adds to this confusion. Current systems classify the disorder based on aberrant esophageal motility patterns documented on manometric studies in the context of dysphagia and pain that cannot be explained by other thoracic or cardiac disease. These systems fall short because the cause of most motility abnormalities is unknown. Patients can have abnormal manometric tracings and be perfectly healthy. Conversely, therapies may correct the abnormal tracing, but symptoms do not improve. Strategies for managing esophageal dysmotility disorders include conservative management, treatment with drugs and other agents, and surgery. In the sections that follow we review current knowledge about the pathophysiology of the primary esophageal motility disorders and recent advances in diagnosis and treatment.