title: Gastrointestinal motility disorders in children.
abstract: The most common and challenging gastrointestinal motility disorders in children include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophageal achalasia, gastroparesis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and constipation. GERD is the most common gastrointestinal motility disorder affecting children and is diagnosed clinically and treated primarily with acid secretion blockade. Esophageal achalasia, a less common disorder in the pediatric patient population, is characterized by dysphagia and treated with pneumatic balloon dilation and/or esophagomyotomy. Gastroparesis and chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction are poorly characterized in children and are associated with significant morbidity. Constipation is among the most common complaints in children and is associated with significant morbidity as well as poor quality of life. Data on epidemiology and outcomes, clinical trials, and evaluation of new diagnostic techniques are needed to better diagnose and treat gastrointestinal motility disorders in children. We present a review of the conditions and challenges related to these common gastrointestinal motility disorders in children.
authors.affiliation: Dr Ambartsumyan is the director of the Gastrointestinal Motility Program at Seattle Children's Hospital in Seattle, Washington. Dr Rodriguez is the codirector of the Colorectal Center at the Center for Motility and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Lusine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ambartsumyan
authors.affiliation: Dr Ambartsumyan is the director of the Gastrointestinal Motility Program at Seattle Children's Hospital in Seattle, Washington. Dr Rodriguez is the codirector of the Colorectal Center at the Center for Motility and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Leonel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
keywords: Gastrointestinal motility; achalasia; children; constipation; gastroesophageal reflux disease; gastroparesis; intestinal pseudo-obstruction