EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF PRIMARY ESOPHAGEAL MOTILITY DISORDERS

Achalasia, diffuse esophageal spasm, and nutcracker esophagus constitu te the main primary esophageal motility disorders. During the past dec ade major progress has been made in understanding their pathophysiolog y and in the ability to establish a precise diagnosis. In addition, mi nimally invasive surgical intervention has radically changed the thera peutic approach, and thoracoscopic or laparoscopic myotomy is probably the best treatment for most patients.