[Esophageal pH monitoring study of eight hours in pediatric patients with suspected gastroesophageal reflux].
OBJECTIVE
To study the pH monitoring over eight hours, analyzing variables such symptomatology and esophagogastroduodenoscopy, as well as the following pH monitoring parameters: number of reflux episodes, number of episodes longer than five minutes, length of reflux time during the eight hours, and the episode of longest duration, for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux.


METHODS
A prospective study. Continuous measurement of esophageal pH was performed over eight hours on 35 patients whose ages ranged from four months to 11 years. The DPS-100 Diagnosis pH meter System was utilized, programmed in accordance with the methodology suggested by Vandenplas. The pH monitoring results were divided into positive and negative and compared with all the variables and parameters of the examination.


RESULTS
We obtained statistically significant differences in all the pH monitoring parameters analyzed, with the reflux index being the most effective for identifying the pathological reflux, independent of age. None of the qualitative variables of age, symptomatology and esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed statistically significant differences when compared to the pH monitoring results.


CONCLUSIONS
The esophageal pH monitoring of eight hours has its pH monitoring parameters validated for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux.
Carneluti
Ricardo
R
Departmento de Cirurgia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP-EPM), Brasil. carneluti@brfree.com.br
Martins
José Luiz
JL
Cury
Edson Khodor
EK
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004947:Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors