GASTROINTESTINAL MANOMETRY STUDIES IN CHILDREN

Children with gastrointestinal motility disorders present with diverse symptoms, and obtaining a detailed history is often impossible. As in adults, evaluation of a suspected motility disorder begins with exclu sion of mechanical obstruction or primary inflammatory disorders. Subs equently, coordination of peristaltic function is evaluated in those s egments of the gastrointestinal tract that are suspected to be abnorma l based on the clinical history. Evaluation of gastrointestinal motili ty in children is particularly challenging because of frequent lack of patient cooperation and difficulties in adapting the equipment to pat ient size. This review discusses the indications and approach to the e valuation of motility of each region of the gastrointestinal tract in infants and children.