Martin Ďuriček, Peter Bánovčin, Peter Lipták, Rudolf Hyrdel
Nosological units without any organic, biochemical or other foundations which could explain patient’s difficulties are
called functional gastrointestinal tract disorders. They represent common gastroenterological problems where the diagnosis
and therapy are “crux medicorum”, both from a doctor’s and patient’s point of view. These conditions are not
characterized by high mortality, but their chronicity results in high morbidity what has a significant socioeconomic
impact. Currently the 3rd version of Rome criteria for functional disorders is still applied(1). Heartburn, non-cardiac chest
pain of oesophageal origin, functional dysphagia and functional globus belong to oesophageal functional disorders.
Symptoms often overlap and in the course of time they can change their quality and intensity. The diagnosis is complicated
and time consuming and most often resides in excluding of a whole spectrum of diseases which resemble patient’s
symptoms. Patient’s management should therefore comprise multidisciplinary cooperation of several experts.