Esophageal impedance/pH monitoring in pediatric patients: preliminary experience with 50 cases.
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.
Mattioli
Girolamo
G
Division and Chair of Pediatric Surgery, Giannina Gaslini Institute, University of Genoa, Largo G. Gaslini 5, 16148, Genoa, Italy.
Pini-Prato
Alessio
A
Gentilino
Valerio
V
Caponcelli
Enrica
E
Avanzini
Stefano
S
Parodi
Stefano
S
Rossi
Giovanni A
GA
Tuo
Pietro
P
Gandullia
Paolo
P
Vella
Claudio
C
Jasonni
Vincenzo
V
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