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Botulinum Toxin Treatment in Gastrointestinal Disorders

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Botulinum Toxin Treatment in Surgery, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine

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Abstract

Botulinum toxin is used extensively for the management of gastrointestinal smooth muscle disorders. This chapter is a summary of the current status of this therapy. Botulinum toxin appears to be beneficial for achalasia, hypertensive esophageal disorders, and anal fissure and unclear utility in gastroparesis, upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction, and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Very few placebo-controlled trials have been performed despite widespread use of toxin for the past 25 years. Botulinum toxin appears to be safe and side effects are uncommon. Despite uncontrolled data, botulinum toxin is now used for a variety of spastic disorders of GI smooth muscle. In some instances, this therapy may preclude the need for more invasive treatments. Controlled trials are needed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Florida, Miami, FL, USA

    Ammar Nassri & Ron Schey

  2. Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Kaveh Sharzehi

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  1. Ammar Nassri
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  1. Professor Emeritus of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Bahman Jabbari

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Nassri, A., Sharzehi, K., Schey, R. (2020). Botulinum Toxin Treatment in Gastrointestinal Disorders. In: Jabbari, B. (eds) Botulinum Toxin Treatment in Surgery, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50691-9_14

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