The prognostic value of obtaining a negative endoscopy in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders.
OBJECTIVE
Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common. Diagnosis is based on the Rome criteria. It has been argued that performing endoscopies could help by providing reassurance and thus improve outcomes. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of obtaining normal endoscopies in the outcome of children with FGIDs.


METHODS
Medical records of patients diagnosed with abdominal pain related-FGIDs were reviewed. To assess the child's symptoms at follow-up, parents completed the Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms III (QPGS III). Primary outcome was presence of abdominal pain (AP) and secondary outcomes were AP severity.


RESULTS
A total of 301 patients were diagnosed with abdominal pain-related FGIDs. Overall, 62.6% reported persistence of AP and 37.4% were asymptomatic at follow-up. Among patients with endoscopies, 61% reported AP. Among patients without endoscopies, 64% were symptomatic (P = .76). AP frequency, AP intensity, and child's disability were similar in those with and without endoscopies.


CONCLUSIONS
The study does not suggest that a negative endoscopy improves the outcome of children with FGIDs.
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Silvana
S
Bonilla
Deli Wang
Miguel
M
Saps
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires