This is an open access book on the pathophysiology, diagnosis and surgical techniques of functional diseases of the esophagus.
In the past, these diseases were only studied and treated in a few centres. However, in the last thirty years, thanks to the advent of laparoscopic surgery, interest in these pathologies has broadened considerably, and not only from a surgical point of view: new diagnostic technologies have in fact been developed that have led to more appropriate classifications and endoscopic treatments have been proposed with excellent results; in addition, robotic surgery is emerging in specialised centres and is likely to replace the laparoscopic approach.
1. History of esophageal functional diseases and their treatment.-
2.
Esophageal anatomy and physiology. Epidemiology and pathophysiology of
functional disorders.-
3. Radiological evaluation of functional diseases of
the esophagus.-
4. Functional motor disorders of the esophagus.-
5.
Esophageal pH and pH-impedance monitoring.-
6. New techniques of endoscopy.-
7. Hypotonic lower esophageal sphincter and hiatal hernia: clinical symptoms
and diagnosis.-
8. Neuromuscular diagnosis by esophageal tests.-
9.
Esophagitis and Barretts esophagus.
Vincenzo Landolfi is Chief of the General Surgery Unit and Head of the Department of General and Specialist Surgery at the Hospital S. Giuseppe Moscati in Avellino, a center of national relevance and high specialization. He worked until 2000 at the University of Naples in the Oesophageal Surgery Unit. In his career, he has always dealt with oesophageal pathophysiology and surgery, and published numerous articles amd chapters on the diagnosis and treatment of functional diseases of the oesophagus.
Salvatore Tolone is Associate Professor of General Surgery at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli. Prof. Tolone is coordinator of the Oesophageal Motility Laboratory at the Division of General, Minimally Invasive, Oncological and Bariatric Surgery. His main surgical activity is oesophageal and bariatric Surgery. His main line of research (about 200 published papers) focuses on oesophageal pathophysiology and oesophageal function before and after bariatric surgery. He has also participated in Italian and international guidelines for the management of functional diseases of the oesophagus.
