Gastric motility in FGIDs: pathological and therapeutic implications

Abstract

Healthy GI motility is essential of optimal digestion and absorption. The electrophysiological properties of the smooth muscles and hierarchical four level integrative organization of neural network control the GI motor functions. Gastrointestinal dysmotility can develop through the dysfunction of the control mechanism at any level of the brain-gut axis. Abnormality in upper gastrointestinal function is a clearly identified pathophysiological mechanism in pain predominant functional GI diseases such as functional abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia in children. Impaired solid and liquid gastric emptying and antroduodenal motility, enhanced visceral sensitivity, are in the fore front of it. In addition, abnormalities in the proximal gastric accommodation and small bowel transit are also some recognized physiological abnormalities in children. Emerging research has demonstrated alteration of gastric motility by pharmacological interventions as a possible therapeutic modality to improve symptoms and health related quality of life in children.