Esophageal motor disorders

A consolidation of ideas regarding the pathogenesis and management of esoph ageal motor disorders occurred over the past year. The development and appl ication of diagnostic techniques has stimulated new thinking about the even ts responsible for peristalsis and has provided novel avenues for studying mechanisms of symptom production. Achalasia remains the most investigated a nd understood motor disorder, and the year's research focused heavily on ma nagement approaches for this important condition. Other topics addressed in this review include proximal esophageal symptoms and disorders, spastic di sorders, and esophageal hypomotility. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkin s, Inc.