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The Center for the Study of Gastrointestinal Motility and Secretion at UCSF Medical Center offers state-of-the art tests to evaluate gastrointestinal (GI) motility and secretory function disorders that can impair the digestive system. Since it was established in 1999, the center has cared for more than 4,000 patients, making it one of the country's top 10 motility disorders centers in number of patients seen.

Our team includes specialists in areas including gastroenterology, radiology, nuclear medicine and surgery, who collaborate to provide the most effective care.

Conditions Evaluated

The gastrointestinal tract consists of the mouth, esophagus, stomach and small and large intestine. All work together to move food along the digestive tract, while absorbing nutrients and discarding waste products.

The organs of the digestive system contain muscles that help propel food, fluids and waste through a person's digestive tract. The movement of these muscles is known as motility. When a person's motility is not functioning normally, this can impair digestion and result in a motility disorder. These conditions can cause a variety of symptoms, such as heartburn, constipation, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain and bloating.

Secretory function refers to the secretion of acid, mucus, proteases and hormones that aid in the digestion process.

Motility disorders of the esophagus and stomach encompass a variety of conditions, some of which include:

• Achalasia — Achalasia affects the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. When a person swallows, the muscular contractions of the esophagus propel food or fluid from the throat to the stomach. Achalasia affects the esophageal muscle's normal ability to move food into the stomach. The condition also causes the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), located between the esophagus and stomach, to remain closed, resulting in a back up of food. Vomiting, chest pain, heartburn and weight loss can occur.



• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) — Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), also known as acid reflux, occurs when a muscle located at the end of the esophagus, known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), fails to operate properly. The LES opens during swallowing to allow the passage of food into the stomach and then closes quickly to prevent food juices from returning, or refluxing, back into the esophagus. GERD may cause the acid contents in your stomach to back up into your esophagus, causing heartburn or other symptoms.



• Gastroparesis — Gastroparesis is a disorder affecting the nerves and muscles of the stomach, causing a "paralyzed" stomach that can't perform its normal function. Normally, your stomach contracts slowly to squeeze solid food into small particles, which are then pushed into the small bowel. With gastroparesis, food is not moved into the small bowel and remains in the stomach for longer than usual. If food lingers too long in the stomach, problems such as bacterial overgrowth can develop in the small bowel. Food can harden into solid masses called bezoars that may cause nausea, vomiting and an obstruction in the stomach.

Diagnosis

We offer a wide range of advanced tests to diagnose and evaluate gastrointestinal motility disorders. These include:

• Stationary Esophageal Manometry — Esophageal manometry is a test that measures the pressures in your esophagus when you are resting and swallowing, which indicate if your esophagus is working normally. This test is used to evaluate esophageal motility disorders, such as achalasia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
• Gastric Analysis — This test assesses the amount of acids and other secretions in the stomach. It is used to diagnose secretory function problems affecting the stomach.
• Pancreatic Secretin Test — This test measures the ability of the pancreas to respond to secretin, a hormone produced by the small intestine when partially digested food has moved into the intestine from the stomach. It helps evaluate and diagnose conditions that may involve abnormal pancreatic function, such as chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
• 24-hour Esophageal pH Monitoring — This test helps determine if abnormal amounts of acid are backing up from the stomach into the esophagus, leading to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We offer the latest technology for 24-hour pH monitoring, including a wireless pH monitoring probe (Bravo Probe), trans-nasal dual probe pH monitoring and conventional trans-nasal ph monitoring. We will discuss the appropriate approach to be used for your individual case.

Staff

Dr. Guilherme M.R. Campos is the director for the Center for the Study of Gastrointestinal Motility and Secretion. Campos is an expert in upper gastrointestinal diseases and surgery and has published numerous peer-reviewed articles.

Other center staff include Dr. Marco Patti, gastrointestinal surgeon, and Ian Nipomnick, laboratory technician.

More Information

Center for the Study of Gastrointestinal Motility and Secretion
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave., Box 0310
San Francisco, CA 94143-0310