[Motor disorders of the smooth muscle of the esophagus]

Dysphagia and/or chest pain are the symptoms that characterize the motor abnormalities of the esophagus. These symptoms are not specific for motor disorders and can be seen with mucosal lesions. Symptom varies in severity and can be severe enough to put in risk the patient life. Motor dysfunction of the esophagus can be idiopathic, when it is not related to another systemic disease, or secondary, when it is associated to a generalized disease. Diagnosis and characterization of the motor disorders of the esophagus are best performed by manometry. In the present work, we expose some of the relevant clinical aspects and the manometric criteria currently accepted to classify motility disorders. Some treatment aspects are also reviewed.