Pathophysiology and pharmacology of small intestinal motility

Tremendous progress continues in the area of small bowel motility and pharmacology. Our understanding of small bowel motility has been further advanced over the past year with studies examining the role of various mediators of gastrointestinal physiology. Additional new evidence supports the role of nitric oxide as a key intracellular messenger for nonadrenergic, noncholinergic inhibition of the gastrointestinal tract. Our ability to more accurately define motor abnormalities of the small bowel has been expanded with new diagnostic techniques. There has also been greater delineation of the small bowel motility abnormalities that exist in a number of pathologic conditions. Our therapeutic options have increased as progress in pharmacologic therapy for small bowel dysmotility continues to be advanced.