title: Esophageal impedance/pH monitoring in pediatric patients: preliminary experience with 50 cases.
abstract: This paper describes multiple intraluminal impedance (MII) in 50 children with typical and atypical gastroesophageal reflux (GER) symptoms and discusses the possible clinical significance of objective numeric data provided by MII computed analysis. Patients underwent 24-hr pH/MII monitoring. Reflux parameters were analyzed with relation to age and reported symptoms. Nonacidic MII events occurred as frequently as acidic ones. A Pathologic Bolus Exposure Index associated with a normal pH Reflux Index was detected in 26% of our series. Significant correlations were found regarding acid and bolus clearing times and their ratio. We conclude that the low rate of symptom occurrence in the pediatric population represents a limit on MII evaluation. Our study confirmed that nonacid GER is at least as frequent as acid GER. As MII provides interesting objective data that could be used in clinical practice, we suggest further research to define normal ranges in the pediatric population.
authors.affiliation: Division and Chair of Pediatric Surgery, Giannina Gaslini Institute, University of Genoa, Largo G. Gaslini 5, 16148, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Girolamo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mattioli
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pini-Prato
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gentilino
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caponcelli
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Avanzini
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.forename: Giovanni A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tuo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gandullia
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jasonni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017097:Electric Impedance; D015154:Esophageal Motility Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D050782:Esophageal pH Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation; D004947:Esophagus / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies