Dr. Rehan Haidry, a Consultant Gastroenterologist and Clinical Lead for Endoscopy at Cleveland Clinic London, discusses an innovative solution to advance diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal motility disorders.
Gastrointestinal motility disorders, such as achalasia and gastroparesis, disrupt the normal functioning of the upper digestive tract, leading to symptoms like difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), chest pain, regurgitation, heartburn, early satiety, nausea, and vomiting. These disorders are often challenging to diagnose accurately, as their symptoms can overlap with more common conditions like gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and functional dyspepsia (FD). Consequently, patients may undergo numerous inconclusive endoscopies and wait years for a definitive diagnosis.1
Gastroparesis is a condition where the stomach muscles fail to contract properly, causing delayed gastric emptying. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, bloating, and abdominal pain. It can significantly impact quality of life and is often associated with diabetes.2 The prevalence of gastroparesis varies widely, with studies reporting rates from 13.8 to 267.7 per 100,000 adults. The condition is more common in women and often presents with a cluster of symptoms, making diagnosis challenging.
Achalasia is a rare disorder affecting about 1 in every 100,000 people, characterised by the inability of the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) to relax, leading to difficulty swallowing and regurgitation of food.3 The exact cause of achalasia is unknown, but it may involve complex interactions between genetic predispositions, immune system dysregulation, and environmental factors such as infections.3
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