Esophageal pH monitoring for gastroesophageal reflux: a United Kingdom study.
Esophageal pH monitoring is the accepted standard for the investigation of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in adults. A postal questionnaire was sent to 912 United Kingdom paediatric physicians & surgeons. Five hundred forty-seven (61%) replied, with 124 (22.7%) currently using the technique, mostly in conjunction with barium swallow and/or esophagoscopy. The use of pH monitoring to quantify GER was also accepted in principal as being the best determinant of reflux by a further 186 (34%), but as yet was unavailable in their hospitals. Pediatricians were also questioned as to their management of children with GER. The majority were treated medically with a variety of antireflux medication, with only 237 (42%) referring cases for surgery.
Evans
D F
DF
Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, England.
Robertson
C S
CS
Ledingham
S J
SJ
Kapila
L
L
D002648:Child; D004947:Esophagus; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom