Gastro-oesophageal reflux in near-miss sudden infant death syndrome or suspected recurrent aspiration.
We have compared barium swallow with a radionuclide gastro-oesophageal scintigraphy (milk scan) method of detecting gastro-oesophageal reflux in 26 infants. In 17 cases, presenting as near miss sudden infant death syndrome, reflux was detected in 2 by barium swallow and in 8 by scintigraphy. In the remaining 9 infants with suspected pulmonary aspiration, reflux was demonstrated by barium swallow in 2 and by scintigraphy in four. Aspiration after gastro-oesophageal reflux was demonstrated only by the radionuclide scan. The feasibility of recording physiological variables during periods of reflux was confirmed.
D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D001239:Inhalation; D008297:Male; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012008:Recurrence; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology