The last few years have been an exciting time in the study of esophageal motor disorders secondary to the emergence of new technologies to study esophageal motor function. Although conventional manometry has long been considered the “gold standard” for defining esophageal motor disorders, many improvements in the technology, such as high-resolution manometry and the incorporation of intraluminal impedance, have occurred which have improved our understanding of esophageal motor disorders. Although these techniques provide more detailed information regarding esophageal function, there has been some debate whether or not these technologies have improved our ability to diagnose and treat patients more effectively. Thus, the aim of this presentation will be to provide an overview of how these technologies have refined our ability to classify esophageal motor disorders.

Dr. John Pandolfino
Currently, I am a Professor of Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. My career has evolved during this time period to focus primarily on clinical and physiologic research of esophageal diseases with 75% of my time spent on research and 25% on clinical duties. I am currently NIH funded to study the pathogenesis of GERD and Dysphagia and I have an additional interest in the development of new technologies to investigate the esophageal and proximal gastric function. These interests have been integrated into my clinical practice and thus, I have been able to maintain a high-level referral practice.

https://fsmweb.northwestern.edu/faculty/facultyprofile.cfm?xid=13041