Neuromuscular diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Specific disorders that often get a nonspecific diagnosis.

Gastrointestinal motor dysfunction, intestinal pseudo-obstruction syndromes, and hollow visceral neuropathy and myopathy were previously considered functional bowel diseases but are now recognized to be organic disorders. They may alter the muscle of the intestinal wall or the nerves of the myenteric plexus, or both. Their symptoms of chronic unexplained abdominal pain, abdominal distention and bloating, early satiety, nausea, vomiting, and alternating diarrhea and constipation are the most common and perhaps the most difficult problems encountered by gastroenterologists. New intestinal recording devices assess motility and allow objective classification of neuromuscular disease, permitting accurate diagnosis and better treatment.