Oesophageal Dysmotility

An oesophageal motility disorder occurs when the oesophagus does not contract properly, hindering the passage of food and liquids to the stomach. This can cause various symptoms, including difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), chest pain, and heartburn.

Key aspects of esophageal motility disorders:

· Dysfunction:

The oesophagus, a muscular tube, is responsible for moving food down to the stomach through rhythmic contractions. In these disorders, these contractions are disrupted.

· Symptoms:

Common symptoms include difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), chest pain, and heartburn.

· Causes:

Many conditions can contribute to esophageal dysmotility, including achalasia (a failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax), distal esophageal spasm, and ineffective esophageal motility.

· Diagnosis:

Diagnosis can involve a variety of tests, including oesophageal manometry (measuring pressure in the oesophagus), barium swallow, or endoscopy.

· Treatment:

Treatment options vary depending on the specific type of motility disorder and may include medications, dilation of the oesophagus, or surgery.