Search
Close this search box.

Pseudo-Obstruction and Other Primary Motility Disorders - Pediatric

Presented by Nikhil Thapar, MRCP, FRCPCH, FRACP, PhD

Dr Nikhil Thapar

Presentation Overview

Primary gastrointestinal motility disorders are a heterogeneous group of disorders that affect the neuromuscular (nerve and muscle) components of the gastrointestinal tract and limit its ability to push contents along the length of its lumen. These disorders include esophageal achalasia, gastroparesis, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, Hirschsprung disease and slow transit constipation. Recent year have seen attempts to standardise the diagnosis and management of such disorders. Overall, their diagnosis needs to be timely, accurate and definitive, which requires expertise of the conditions and criteria for their diagnosis as well as access to appropriate investigative tools (e.g. motility testing, tissue assessment). Management is largely supportive and often best served in specialist centres with an expert multidisciplinary team. The mainstay for therapy includes the provision of essential nutrition, reducing symptoms and disease progression, limiting complications and ultimately improving outcomes and quality of life. For most conditions this currently involves surgery. The future holds potential for a better understanding of these conditions as well as improved diagnostics and more effective innovative therapies.

About Dr. Thapar

Professor Nikhil Thapar MRCP FRCPCH FRACP PhD 
Director of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Liver Transplant
Queensland Children’s Hospital

Professor Nikhil Thapar is Director of the Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Liver Transplant service at Queensland Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, Australia where he leads a specialist statewide multidisciplinary clinical service for children with gastrointestinal motility and functional disorders. He was Academic Lead for Paediatric Gastroenterology and head of the Neurogastroenterology and Motility service at Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (London, UK).

He is co-editor of the textbook of Paediatric Neurogastroenterology, faculty lead for F1000 Prime and associate editor for the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. Professor Thapar sits on the Rome V committee (PaediatrIcs; lower GI) as well as the gastroenterology committee of the Asia Pan-Pacific Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, chairing its Neurogastroenterology and Motility working group. He was previously chair of the Gastroenterology Committee of the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. He was a lead organizer of the 1st World Congress of Paediatric Neurogastroenterology and Motility held in Adelaide, Australia in April 2021.

Share this page
Topics of this article
Was this article helpful?

IFFGD is a nonprofit education and research organization. Our mission is to inform, assist, and support people affected by gastrointestinal disorders.

Our original content is authored specifically for IFFGD readers, in response to your questions and concerns.

If you found this article helpful, please consider supporting IFFGD with a small tax-deductible donation.

Related Information
IFFGD Travel Awards

Background of IFFGD’s Travel Awards IFFGD first offered Travel Awards in 2023. To date, we have presented Awards to 23 young investigators from around the

Read More »
IFFGD’s 2024 Virtual Digestive Health Wellness & Walk Event: A Unique Charitable Event with Achievable Goals for All

The 2024 Virtual Digestive Health Wellness & Walk held Saturday, July 6, 2024 – Saturday, July 13, 2024 is a charitable event to raise money to support gastrointestinal illness research. 

Like a traditional walk, participants register to be active to get credit for steps taken during the event. However, this event goes beyond a step goal by also awarding points to participants for self-care, wellness, and outreach activities.

By adding these alternative activities, we hope that anyone that wants to participate, can participate. #Moves4GIhealth24

Read More »
Personal Stories
IFFGD Travel Awards

Background of IFFGD’s Travel Awards IFFGD first offered Travel Awards in 2023. To date, we have presented Awards to 23 young investigators from around the

Read More »
IFFGD’s 2024 Virtual Digestive Health Wellness & Walk Event: A Unique Charitable Event with Achievable Goals for All

The 2024 Virtual Digestive Health Wellness & Walk held Saturday, July 6, 2024 – Saturday, July 13, 2024 is a charitable event to raise money to support gastrointestinal illness research. 

Like a traditional walk, participants register to be active to get credit for steps taken during the event. However, this event goes beyond a step goal by also awarding points to participants for self-care, wellness, and outreach activities.

By adding these alternative activities, we hope that anyone that wants to participate, can participate. #Moves4GIhealth24

Read More »
Skip to content