Pediatric gastroesophageal reflux clinical practice guidelines: joint recommendations of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN).
OBJECTIVE
To develop a North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) and European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) international consensus on the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease in the pediatric population.


METHODS
An international panel of 9 pediatric gastroenterologists and 2 epidemiologists were selected by both societies, which developed these guidelines based on the Delphi principle. Statements were based on systematic literature searches using the best-available evidence from PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and bibliographies. The committee convened in face-to-face meetings 3 times. Consensus was achieved for all recommendations through nominal group technique, a structured, quantitative method. Articles were evaluated using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine Levels of Evidence. Using the Oxford Grades of Recommendation, the quality of evidence of each of the recommendations made by the committee was determined and is summarized in appendices.


RESULTS
More than 600 articles were reviewed for this work. The document provides evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease in the pediatric population.


CONCLUSIONS
This document is intended to be used in daily practice for the development of future clinical practice guidelines and as a basis for clinical trials.
Vandenplas
Yvan
Y
UZ Brussel Kinderen, Brussels, Belgium.
Rudolph
Colin D
CD
Di Lorenzo
Carlo
C
Hassall
Eric
E
Liptak
Gregory
G
Mazur
Lynnette
L
Sondheimer
Judith
J
Staiano
Annamaria
A
Thomson
Michael
M
Veereman-Wauters
Gigi
G
Wenzl
Tobias G
TG
North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition
European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition
D002648:Child; D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000379:methods*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*