Normal and abnormal gastrointestinal motility

The study of GI motility is an area of great current interest and excitement. Our knowledge of normal and abnormal GI motility is expanding exponentially. Perhaps one of the most satisfying consequences of this new knowledge is the ability to reassure patients that their symptoms may not be functional but may be based on a specific physiologic dysfunction. Unfortunately, our ability to treat effectively these newly described disorders has lagged behind our ability to diagnose them, but progress is being made, with promising new therapeutic agents on the horizon. Gastroenterologists remain the best friends of surgeons; most of these patients can and should be managed without surgical intervention. Therapeutic nihilism is not justified, because a carefully considered and properly timed operation may be of tremendous symptomatic benefit to selected patients. As more information and follow-up results are gained, the proper role of surgical intervention in these disorders will be better defined.