Gastrointestinal manometry studies in children.

Children with gastrointestinal motility disorders present with diverse symptoms, and obtaining a detailed history is often impossible. As in adults, evaluation of a suspected motility disorder begins with exclusion of mechanical obstruction or primary inflammatory disorders. Subsequently, coordination of peristaltic function is evaluated in those segments of the gastrointestinal tract that are suspected to be abnormal based on the clinical history. Evaluation of gastrointestinal motility in children is particularly challenging because of frequent lack of patient cooperation and difficulties in adapting the equipment to patient size. This review discusses the indications and approach to the evaluation of motility of each region of the gastrointestinal tract in infants and children.