Esophageal motor disorders

Esophageal motor function remains of investigative and clinical interest be cause of its relevance to symptoms and its relation to the occurrence and m anagement of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Refinement in diagnostic meth ods continues to occur, and improved tests for identifying the nature or se verity of motor disturbances in both the proximal and distal esophageal reg ions are now well described. Controversy concerning the management of achal asia, the best-understood distal motor disorder, is resolving as the benefi ts and disadvantages of available treatment options are becoming recognized . The relation of esophageal motor dysfunction to outcomes from antireflux surgery remains incompletely understood.