REVIEW ARTICLE - THE USE OF BOTULINUM TOXIN IN THE ALIMENTARY-TRACT

New and future indications for the treatment of disorders of the alime ntary tract using local injections of botulinum toxin are reviewed, Cl inical experience shows that overactive smooth muscle sphincters may b e weakened to treat disorders such as achalasia or chronic anal fissur e, By contrast, injections placed into the sphincter of Oddi have prov en less effective for postcholecystectomy pain syndrome. Experimental evidence suggests that food intake may be reduced by weakening the dis tal stomach with botulinum toxin, This approach may possibly lead to t he treatment of obesity. There are some new possible indications for t he use of botulinum toxin on the alimentary tract, and infantile hyper trophic pyloric stenosis seems to be the most promising new developmen t.