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Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Robotic Myotomy and Partial Fundoplication for Achalasia
Published on: August 11, 2023
Esophageal Motility Disorders: Current Approach to Diagnostics and Therapeutics
Dhyanesh A Patel1, Rena Yadlapati2, Michael F Vaezi1
1Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Division of Gastroenterology, Nashville, Tennessee.
Abstract:
Dysphagia is a common symptom with significant impact on quality of life. Our diagnostic armamentarium was primarily limited to endoscopy and barium esophagram until the advent of manometric techniques in the 1970s, which provided the first reliable tool for assessment of esophageal motor function. Since that time, significant advances have been made over the last 3 decades in our understanding of various esophageal motility disorders due to improvement in diagnostics with high-resolution esophageal manometry. High-resolution esophageal manometry has improved the sensitivity for detecting achalasia and has also enhanced our understanding of spastic and hypomotility disorders of the esophageal body. In this review, we discuss the current approach to diagnosis and therapeutics of various esophageal motility disorders.
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