Prolonged esophageal pH monitoring in the evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux in children with chronic tubotympanal disorders

BACKGROUND: Children with ear, nose and throat disorders are believed to have a high incidence of pathologic gastroesophageal reflux (GER). This study was designed to establish the frequency and ratio of pathologic GER in the development of chronic tubotympanal disorders. METHODS: Twenty-seven children with chronic tubotympanal disorders (mean age, 2 to 13 years; average age, 6.8 years) underwent 24-hour continuous pH monitoring. Fourteen of the examined patients had secretory otitis, whereas 13 patients had recurrent otitis. From each 24-hour pH monitoring, 12-hour daytime and nighttime periods were selected. Eleven patients were tested using simultaneous dual pH monitoring (distal and proximal pH monitoring). RESULTS: Fifteen (55.6%) of 27 patients had pathologic GER. The authors did not find a relation between pathologic GER and different types of ear disorders. Daytime pH monitoring yielded significantly more episodes of reflux than did nighttime monitoring. The reflux index was substantially higher during the day. In the current study, distal pH monitoring showed that 6 of 11 patients had pathologic GER, whereas proximal pH monitoring showed that only only 3 of 11 patients had pathologic GER. CONCLUSIONS: The authors recommend that a pH study be performed in children with chronic tubotympanal disorders when standard treatment is ineffective. The method of choice for the diagnosis of pathologic GER in patients with chronic tubotympanal disorders should be pH monitoring of the esophagus and throat.     

24 Сʱθʳ�ܶ�̬˫pH ��⼼����������θʳ�ܷ�����ؼ����е�Ӧ��

??The 24-hour intraesophageal pH monitoring is a widely used method in diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux diseases. It has been regarded as the diagnositic standard of these diseases. Due to the technical limitation?? the traditional pH monitoring can only show the acid refluxes in the lower esophagus instead of the mixed and alkaline ones. As a result?? there is inevitably a proportional rate of misdiagnosis in the traditional pH monitoring. The 24-hour gastric and esophageal double pH monitoring can perfectly solve this problem. In this method?? both the gastric and esophageal pH is recorded for 24 hours. Both the acid refluxes in the lower esophagus and the duodenogastric reflux and the mixed and alkaline refluxes can be clearly demonstrated. With improvement of accuracy?? the 24-hour gastric and esophageal double pH monitoring has been used in adults and adolescent?? but rarely in the neonates. In this paper??the key point of this method and its application in neonates and prematures was reviewed and introduced.     

PH monitoring in the distal and proximal esophagus in symptomatic infants

BACKGROUND: Standard distal esophageal pH monitoring data are sometimes within normal ranges in children with clinically suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease. Therefore, the authors hypothesized that the amount of acid reflux reaching the proximal esophagus may be greater in some subgroups of patients than in healthy controls or in other subgroups of patients. METHODS: The parameters of 24-hour pH monitoring in the proximal part of the esophagus were analyzed in 120 symptomatic infants in who the reflux parameters in the lower esophagus were clearly within normal ranges (reflux index < 5.0%). The infants were classified into four patient groups: excessive regurgitation (n = 41): inconsolable crying (n = 31), apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) (n = 18), and chronic respiratory disorders (n = 30). The control group consisted also of 120 infants. The following parameters were calculated: reflux index, the number of reflux episodes, the number of reflux episodes lasting longer than 5 minutes, the duration of the longest reflux episode, and the acid clearance time (ACT, duration of reflux episodes divided by number of reflux episodes). RESULTS: The patients with chronic respiratory disorders were significantly older than the patients in the other groups and the controls. In the distal esophagus, there was no statistically significant difference between the reflux parameters. As could be expected, every parameter was statistically (paired t test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test) significantly smaller in the proximal than in the distal esophagus, except for the ACT in infants who presented with inconsolable crying. In the proximal esophagus, there was no statistically significant difference between the different patient subgroups or controls, except for the number of reflux episodes in the group with chronic respiratory disorders and the group with inconsolable crying, applying one-way analysis of variance. As determined by applying the Mann-Whitney test, the number of reflux episodes in the upper esophagus was significantly higher in the group with chronic respiratory disorders than in the other patient groups and controls. Therefore, the authors' data do not support the hypothesis that reflux reaching the proximal esophagus is a frequent cause of ALTE. However, the data may suggest that the number of reflux episodes reaching the proximal esophagus in children with chronic respiratory disorders and with distal pH monitoring data within normal ranges may be increased. Whether this finding reflects reality or a statistical coincidence, or is influenced by the older age of this patient group, needs further evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: In theory, dual simultaneous esophageal pH monitoring in the distal and proximal esophagus may increase the diagnostic accuracy of pH monitoring in infants. Our results do not support a substantial advantage of a systematic application of this new technique, especially not in infants presenting with ALTE, excessive regurgitation, or inconsolable crying. In the subgroup of patients with chronic respiratory disorders, more data are needed before conclusions can be determined and recommendations can be made.     

Dual-probe pH monitoring for the assessment of gastroesophageal reflux in the course of chronic hoarseness in children

The purpose of our study was to assess gastroesophageal reflux (GER) by dual-probe pH monitoring in children suffering from chronic hoarseness for more than six months. Seventeen children (aged between 2 and 12 years, 10 boys and 7 girls) were enrolled. All children underwent a laryngoscopy and a 24-hour dual-probe pH monitoring. At both sensor, distal and proximal esophageal, a pathological GER was defined as the presence of episodes of acid reflux with pH < 4 during a fraction of the total recording time greater than 5.2 percent. The computer considered the child was supine when asleep and upright when awake. Laryngoscopy revealed interarytenoid erythema and/or edema with vocal cord nodules or granulomas in 13 cases (76.4%), isolated vocal nodules or granulomas in three cases (17.6%) and a normal appearance in one case (5.8%). At both sensors, the majority of refluxes occurred when the child was upright, as analyzed by the percentage of time the intra-esophageal pH was below four (% time pH < 4), number of refluxes, reflux episodes/hour and longest reflux episode, p < 0.05 between upright and supine for each parameter. The median total % time pH < 4 on the proximal and distal probes was respectively 1.62 percent (95% CI 1.50-3.79) and 11.49 percent (95% CI 8.81-27.17), p < 0.0003. Among the 17 hoarse children, a pathological GER was observed in 12 (70.5%) at the distal sensor and in three (17.5%) at both sensors. Among the 16 hoarse children with abnormal findings on laryngoscopy, two (12.5%) had diagnosed pathological GER at the proximal and 11 (68.7%) at the distal sensor. The only child with normal findings on laryngoscopy exhibited a pathological GER at both sensors. Our results suggest that chronic hoarseness is associated with a pathological GER. The majority of these documented refluxes occurred when the child was awake.     

Normal ranges of continuous pH monitoring in the proximal esophagus

BACKGROUND: To determine normal ranges of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in the proximal esophagus, measured with continuous pH monitoring. Normal ranges in the distal esophagus have been published. Because esophageal pH monitoring is frequently performed in children with atypical manifestations such as chronic respiratory disease, and because one of the possible pathophysiologic mechanisms may be (micro-)aspiration, it may be relevant to establish normal ranges in the proximal esophagus. METHODS: Twenty-four-hour pH monitoring was performed in 200 children with suspected GER disease. The mean age of the patients was 4.5 months (range, 0.5-17.0 months). After initial analysis, patients were divided into three groups according to the reflux index (RI) in the distal esophagus, because it could be speculated that the amount of reflux reaching the proximal esophagus depends on the amount of reflux in the distal esophagus: Group I (n: 120) children had a distal RI of less than 5% and were considered normal, group II (n:50) had a distal RI of 5% to 10% and was considered to have intermediate disease, and group III (n:30) had a distal RI of more than 10% and was regarded as pathologic. The following parameters are calculated: the RI, the total number of reflux episodes, the number of reflux episodes lasting more than 5 minutes, the duration of the longest reflux episode, and the acid clearance time (ACT). RESULTS: The median RI in the distal esophagus was 3.8 +/- 0.34 (standard error of the mean [SEM]), and in the proximal esophagus, the RI was 1.2 +/- 0.23. In group I patients, the RI in the proximal esophagus was 0.5% +/- 0.09%, in group II the RI increased significantly to 2.75% +/- 0.34% (P [group I compared with group II] < 0.01), and in group III the RI was 6.15% +/- 0.96% (P [II-III] < 0.01). The number of acid reflux episodes in group I was 17.0 +/- 2.27, in group II the number increased to 62.5 +/- 8.18 (P [I-II] < 0.01), and in group III it reached 102.0 +/- 23.9 (P [II-III] < 0.05). Also the duration of the longest reflux episodes and the number of reflux episodes lasting more than 5 minutes increased from group I to group II, and from group II to group III. The ACT was shorter in the proximal esophagus (group I 0.3 +/- 0.06 minutes; group II 0.48 +/- 0.07 minutes, P [I-II] = not significant [NS]; group III 0.56 +/- 0.17 minutes P [II-III] = NS) than in the distal esophagus (group I 0.49 +/- 0.03 minutes, P [proximal ACT compared with distal ACT] < 0.05; Group II 0.76 +/- 0.05 minutes, P [proximal-distal] < 0.01; Group III 0.89 +/- 0.09 minutes, P [proximal-distal] = NS) suggesting more effective esophageal clearance in the proximal esophagus. CONCLUSIONS: Protection of the proximal esophagus from acid reflux is significantly related to the incidence and duration of reflux measured in the distal esophagus. These normal ranges in the upper esophagus will be helpful in the interpretation of upper esophageal pH monitoring data.     

联合食管多通道腔内阻抗-pH监测婴幼儿胃食管反流病

目的 评价24 h 联合食管多通道腔内阻抗-pH 监测（24 h MⅡ-pH）在婴幼儿胃食管反流病中的诊断价值,分析伴有反复肺炎的胃食管反流婴幼儿的反流特点。方法 疑诊胃食道反流的反复肺炎婴幼儿17 例,行24 h MⅡ-pH 监测,分析反流物性质和特点。结果 17 例患儿中阳性11 例（65%）,共监测到853 次反流周期,其中65.3% 为酸反流,以餐后2 h 以内发生为主（69.5%）;71.6%为混合反流;反流发生的体位从多至少依次为直立位、仰卧位、侧卧位和俯卧位;反流物的高度以远端反流为主。根据Biox-ochoa 评分,重度反流的患儿占73%（8/11）。结论 联合食管MⅡ-pH 监测可分析反流物性质,增加胃食道反流病的检出率。     

Prevalence and treatment of silent gastro-oesophageal reflux in children with recurrent respiratory disorders

Thirty-six infants and children presenting with recurrent respiratory disorders (RRD) as the sole clinical symptom including bronchial asthma (6), recurrent obstructive bronchitis with or without wheezing (18), chronic nocturnal cough (3), recurrent episodes of pneumonia (3), recurrent pharyngitis (3) and recurrent laryngitis (3) were investigated for associated gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER) by oesophagram, endoscopy and continuous 24 h pH monitoring of the distal oesophagus.The pH monitoring criteria were selected on the basis of a preliminary study comparing statistically measurements of 32 variables recorded in 15 patients who all had clinical, radiological and endoscopic evidence of GER and in 8 asymptomatic controls. Although patients with symptomatic GER differed significantly from the asymptomatic ones for 27 variables examined, 6 variables emerged as having the highest value for discrimination (overlap score 0–1). Among these, the Euler-Byrne index (number of reflux pH<4+4 times the number of reflux episodes of more than 5 min), the percentage of total reflux time and the number of reflux episodes 1 h post-cibal scored 0 (no overlap). GER was considered to be present when at least five of these six parameters were abnormal.The overeall incidence of GER in children with RRD was 41% (15) when detected by oesophagram and 61% (22) when diagnosed by pH monitoring criteria. In the children with bronchial asthma or with recurrent laryngitis, the percentage of reflux time during sleep was about 40 times higher than in asymptomatic controls and 2 times higher than in those with symptomatic GER. Of the 22 patients with RRD and GER, 9 were elected to have fundoplication because of poor response to medical antireflux management. All of these, showed complete (6) or partial (3) resolution of respiratory symptoms. Of the 13 patients in whom medical therapy was continued, 9 showed satisfactory improvement with a mean follow-up time of 1 year. Silent GER might be an important contributing factor to the severity of some common chronic respiratory disorders in children.Abbreviation RRD recurrent respiratory disorders - GER gastro-oesophageal reflux     

Xanthines in apnea of premature infants. Influence on gastroesophageal reflux

Theophylline and caffeine are two xanthine-derivated drugs frequently administered for their stimulating effects on the respiratory center in premature babies presenting with "idiopathic apnea". These drugs are known to increase the gastric acid secretion and to decrease the lower esophageal sphincter pressure, that in turn possibly increase gastroesophageal reflux. We studied 14 premature babies presenting with "idiopathic apnea", treated with caffeine at recommended dose (2.5 mg/kg/day). At 24 hour continuous esophageal pH monitoring was performed 3 to 5 days after starting the treatment. In 6 babies total reflux time (5.6% of the investigation time with ph less than 4) and the number of refluxes in 24 hours (15.3) were significantly increased compared to the other 8 babies (pH less than 4: 0.92%; number of refluxes 6.1). These results were also compared to the results obtained ina symptomatic full term neonates (5-10 days old) (pH less than 4: 0.87; number 5.3/24 hours). The results we obtained in the caffeine treated group were independent of the plasma xanthine levels (all within or below therapeutic ranges). A second pH monitoring 2 weeks after stopping caffeine administration was always within normal ranges. The increase of gastroesophageal reflux seems individual for each patient. Gastroesophageal reflux can lead to pulmonary aspiration, and, in this way, it can be the origin of obstructive apnea or aspiration pneumonia.     

Effect of proton pump inhibition on acid, weakly acid and weakly alkaline gastro-esophageal reflux in children

Background

The effect of proton pump inhibitors on the characteristics of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in children and adolescents was evaluated.

Methods

Twenty-one children and adolescents with symptoms suggesting GER disease (GERD) underwent upper endoscopy and a 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance/pH (MII-pH) monitoring before and at the end of 2 months of therapy with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

Results

Fourteen (67%) patients reported clinically relevant symptom improvement after 2 months of PPIs intake. At the first endoscopy, 8 (38%) patients had macroscopic signs of reflux esophagitis; after two months of therapy, 6/8 (75%) patients had a complete mucosal recovery. There was a significant reduction in the total percentage of mean acid reflux time (from 13.1% to 3.8%), and the De Meester score dropped to normal (from 46.4 to 13.1). The mean number of acid refluxes decreased significantly from 48 to 15 per 24 hours, while inversely, the mean number of weakly acid refluxes increased significantly from 26 to 64 per 24 hours. PPI therapy did not affect the total number of reflux episodes, the number of liquid and mixed refluxes, the duration of esophageal bolus exposure and proximal extent of the reflux.

Conclusions

In children and adolescents with GERD, PPIs do not affect the total number of reflux episodes. PPIs only decrease the acidity of refluxate. Nevertheless, the majority of patients with typical reflux symptoms may report symptom improvement. Esophagitis can be healed after PPI treatment. The treatment of weakly acid and weakly alkaline reflux remains a challenge for physicians in the future.     

24h食管pH监测在婴儿喘息性疾病中的应用

目的探讨24 h食管pH监测在婴儿喘息性疾病中的应用。方法对74例喘息性疾病婴儿进行24 h食管pH监测,监测指标包括食管pH<4.00的次数、反流时间≥5 min的次数、最长反流时间、卧位pH<4.00的时间占总监测时间的百分比以及Biox-Ochoa评分;对所有喘息患儿按照病情分为持续性喘息组和一般喘息组,比较2组24 h食管pH监测情况;将其中有病理性胃食管反流(GER)的40例患儿随机分为治疗组和对照组。对照组给予常规抗炎、平喘治疗,治疗组在抗炎、平喘治疗基础上加用抗GER治疗。比较2组患儿住院时间和肺部啰音消失时间?峁?4例喘息性疾病患儿病理性GER发生率为54.0%。其中持续性喘息组病理性GER发生率(69.4%),显著高于一般喘息组(39.5%);持续性喘息组各项反流指标均高于一般喘息组(Pa<0.01)。治疗组患儿住院时间、肺部啰音消失时间均较对照组明显缩短,差异均有统计学意义(Pa<0.01)。所有患儿在24 h食管pH监测中未出现严重不良反应,无终止监测的发生。结论喘息性疾病患儿病理性GER发生率高,持续性喘息患儿发生率更高。伴有病理性GER的喘息患儿经抗GER治疗后效果明显。24 h食...     

Milk-thickening agents as a treatment for gastroesophageal reflux

Milk thickening agents are believed to reduce episodes of gastroesophageal reflux, but their use has not been evaluated thoroughly. We studied the effect of these agents in 30 bottle-fed babies, 6-8 weeks old, with clinical gastroesophageal reflux pathology. Continuous 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring revealed gastroesophageal reflux pathology for all parameters studied: reflux index (18.4%), duration of the longest reflux episode (23.3 min), number of reflux episodes in 24 h (34.5), number of reflux episodes greater than 5 min (6.8). All investigations were performed in prone-anti-Trendelenburg position. The infants were treated with milk thickening agents (1 g to 115 ml, as recommended by Carre). Most (n = 25) showed clinical improvement of their symptoms. A second pH monitoring was performed under treatment conditions after 7-14 days, and showed in 24 infants a decrease of the number of reflux episodes (15.1 in 24 h) (p less than 0.001), but a comparable reflux index (17.8%) (NS) and number of long lasting (greater than 5 min) reflux episodes (7.8) (NS). The duration of the longest reflux episode, however, increased significantly (56.6 min) (p less than 0.001). In six infants all parameters were within normal ranges at follow-up. Milk thickening agents seem clinically effective as a treatment for gastroesophageal reflux in individual cases, but can lead to occult gastroesophageal reflux episodes of long duration, possibly increasing the risk for esophagitis or respiratory dysfunction.     

Area under pH 4: advantages of a new parameter in the interpretation of esophageal pH monitoring data in infants

Twenty-four-hour continuous esophageal pH monitoring has become the preferred test to quantify acid gastroesophageal reflux. Agreement has been achieved that acid gastric content reflux into the esophagus constitutes a major cause of reflux esophagitis; we therefore calculated the "area under pH 4" (A) in 560 consecutive pH monitorings in infants 1-12 months old and related this parameter (A) to the reflux index (RI): RI less than 10%: A 185 +/- 295 (mean +/- 1 SD); RI 10-19%: A 1,046 +/- 1,206; RI 20-29%: A 1,967 +/- 2,038; RI 30-39%: A 3,307 +/- 2,955; RI greater than 40%: A 7,977 +/- 7,227. A higher RI is associated with a greater area under pH 4 (p less than 0.001); the high SD obtained in each group, however, illustrates the great variability in surface (or acidity of the reflux episodes) in all groups. Esophagoscopy and biopsy were performed in 112 infants (20%). Specificity in the prediction of (mild) esophagitis was higher for the area under pH 4 (88%) compared with the RI (50%). The sensitivity of both parameters was comparable (96 versus 93%). Our results strongly suggest that in young infants, the acidity of the reflux episodes (the area under pH 4) is a determining factor in the prediction of esophagitis. These data need to be confirmed by more studies before general application of this parameter can be advised.     

24-hour esophageal pH-metry in the evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux pathology]

Gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) in infants was studied using 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring. Gastro-esophageal reflux was detected in 32/41 subjects. In our patients the main symptoms were vomiting, regurgitation, failure-to-thrive, chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, apnea, recurrent pneumonia. All patients with GER were treated appropriately with prone positioning and medical therapy (prokinetic agent and, eventually, ranitidine). Successful treatment of the reflux was obtained in all patients. In our opinion the 24-hour intraesophageal pH monitoring is a highly diagnostic test to identify the presence of GER and evaluate its gravity.     

24 h食管pH监测在婴儿难治性肺炎中的临床应用研究

目的探讨24h食管pH监测在婴儿难治性肺炎中的临床应用及其意义。方法对57例难治性肺炎患儿进行24h食管pH监测,监测指标包括食管pH〈4.0的次数、反流时间≥5min的次数、最长反流时间、卧位pH值〈4的时间占总监测时间的百分比和Biox-Ochoa评分。结果57例中存在胃食管反流（GER）28例（占49.1%）;有呕吐与无呕吐症状患儿各项反流指标比较差异有统计学意义;伴有胃食管反流患儿经促动力剂治疗者,肺部罗音消失时间和咳嗽持续时间均较未用促动力剂治疗者短,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论难治性肺炎患儿经正规抗炎治疗效果不佳者,应考虑是否合并胃食管反流,进行24h食管pH监测,以确定病因并指导治疗。     

Esophageal reflux in symptomatic and asymptomatic infants: postprandial and circadian variations

Twenty-two full-term infants, nine asymptomatic and 13 symptomatic for chronic digestive problems, had long-term (mean = 21 h) esophageal pH monitoring. All children were observed in strictly standardized conditions including meals and body position. Symptomatic infants presented significantly more esophageal refluxes, spent a greater percentage of time with a pH below 4, had a longer reflux duration (longer clearing time) and presented more refluxes lasting more than 5 min. We performed a determination of the circadian variations of parameters associated with esophageal reflux. Asymptomatic and symptomatic infants presented significant circadian variations of the percentage of time below pH 4 and of the longest duration of reflux. However, symptomatic infants had significantly higher mean values and increased amplitudes of circadian rhythms. Moderate phase lag existed for certain variables between symptomatic and asymptomatic infants. These findings can be helpful when interpreting the results of long-term esophageal pH monitoring.     

Gastro-oesophageal reflux in infants

Forty bottle-fed babies, 4–12 weeks old, with clinical gastro-oesophageal reflux were studied. Continuous 24 h oesophageal pH monitoring in a prone position demonstrated a gastro-oesophageal reflux with all of the following parameters: reflux index, duration of the longest reflux episode, number of reflux episodes in 24 h, number of reflux episodes >5 min in 24 h. Positional therapy (prone-antitrendelenburg position), applied to all infants, resulted in a normalization of these parameters in ten of them. The remaining 30 infants were treated with milk-thickening agents, as recommended by Carre. Nearly all (N=25) showed an important clinical improvement. A third pH monitoring was performed after 10–14 days of treatment. In six infants the results were completely within normal ranges. In 24 infants a decrease in the number of reflux episodes was demonstrated, with a comparable reflux index and number of long lasting reflux episodes. The duration of the longest reflux episode however increased significantly (P<0.001). Drugs (domperidone, Gaviscon) added to the milk-thickening agents in these 24 children, led to normalization of pH tracings. Clinical symptoms were less severe or disappeared in all infants but one. We conclude that if positional therapy (prone-antitrendelenburg) does not correct gastro-oesophageal reflux in infants, pharmacological treatment should be applied. Milk-thickening agents alone can be effective in individual cases but should be prescribed with care as they can lead to more occult gastro-oesophageal reflux with episodes of longer duration, increasing the risk of oesophagitis or respiratory distress.Abbreviation GOR gastro-oesophageal reflux     

Accuracy and reproducibility of 12-h esophageal pH monitoring

Seventy-five consecutive 24-h intraesophageal pH recordings performed according to the methods of Jolley et al. were evaluated. Total scores and the mean duration of sleep reflux (ZMD) were calculated for the first and the last 12 h, respectively, and compared to each other, as well as to the full 24-h recording. The accuracy of the first and last 12 h in predicting whether the 24-h study was abnormal was 85% and 87%, respectively. The accuracy in predicting whether the ZMD for the 24-h study was abnormal was 73% and 83%, respectively, with an overall 39% false-negative rate. The 12-h study reproducibility was 72% for the total score and 56% for the ZMD. Since the original standards were determined from 18- to 24-h recordings, the test was restandardized based on 12-h recordings from patients with normal 24-h studies. Restandardization did not improve the accuracy or reproducibility. The high false-negative rate for the ZMD and the poor reproducibility cast serious doubt on the utility of 12-h pH recordings, especially in patients with respiratory symptoms.     

Prone and left lateral positioning reduce gastro-oesophageal reflux in preterm infants.

AIM: To examine the effect of body position on clinically significant gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) in preterm infants. METHODS: Eighteen preterm infants with clinically significant GOR were studied prospectively using 24 hour lower oesophageal pH monitoring. Infants were nursed in three positions (prone, left, and right lateral) for 8 hours in each position, with the order randomly assigned. Data were analysed using analysis of covariance. RESULTS: The median (range) reflux index (RI) for the group was 13.8% (5.8-40. 4). There was no significant difference in the mean time spent in each position. RI (mean % (SEM)) was significantly less in prone (6. 3 (1.7)) and left lateral positions (11.0 (2.2)), when compared with the right lateral position (29.4 (3.2)); p<0.001. The mean (SEM) longest episodes (mins) of GOR were reduced by prone and left positions (8.6 (2.2) and 10.0 (2.4), respectively) compared with the right position (26.0 (3.9)); p<0.001. The mean (SE) number of episodes was reduced by prone (15.4 (2.8)) and left (24.6 (3.5)) positions when compared with right (41.6 (4.6)) (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Prone and left lateral positions significantly reduce the severity of GOR, by reducing the number of episodes and the duration of the longest episodes. Such positioning offers a useful adjunct to the treatment in hospital of preterm infants with gastro-oesophageal reflux.     

Effect of cisapride on acid gastro-oesophageal reflux during treatment with caffeine

About 50% of preterm infants and neonates receiving methylxanthines for respiratory stimulation will develop a pathological gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) pattern. In the face of potential GOR-related complications the effect of a concomitant treatment with a prokinetic agent, such as cisapride, should be evaluated. In this study 32 formerly preterm infants were studied simultaneously by 24-hour oesophageal pH monitoring and cardio-respirogram before the presumed end of caffeine treatment. In 14 of these infants a reflux index (RI; percentage of recording time) of more than 4% could be detected (pH <4). Ten of them were treated orally with cisapride (0. 2 mg/kg t.i.d.). Data of pH monitoring, cardio-respirogram and caffeine serum concentrations were obtained before and 5 days after introducing cisapride. The RI and the frequency of GOR decreased significantly with cisapride. The steady-state serum concentrations of caffeine were not influenced by cisapride and the extent of periodic breathing remained unchanged. In conclusion, cisapride has a positive influence on GOR parameters during caffeine treatment without impairing the oral bioavailability or therapeutic effect of caffeine.     

Effect of baclofen on emesis and 24-hour esophageal pH in neurologically impaired children with gastroesophageal reflux disease

OBJECTIVES: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is difficult to control with medical therapy in neurologically impaired children. The gamma-aminobutyric acid type B receptor agonist baclofen was recently reported to reduce reflux in adult patients with GERD by reducing the incidence of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations. The current study was undertaken to investigate the effects of baclofen on GERD in neurologically impaired children. METHODS: Eight neurologically impaired children with GERD between 2 months and 16 years were studied. Baclofen (0.7 mg/kg/day) was administered orally or via nasogastric tube in three divided doses 30 minutes before meals for 7 days. The frequency of emesis on and off baclofen were recorded as a measure of clinical impact. Twenty-four-hour esophageal pH monitoring was conducted before and on the seventh day of the administration of baclofen. RESULTS: The frequency of emesis was significantly decreased (P = 0.03). The total number of acid refluxes was significantly decreased both during the entire 24-hour period (P = 0.01) and during the postprandial period (P = 0.049). The number of acid refluxes longer than 5 minutes was significantly decreased during the 24-hour period (P = 0.02). The percentage total time of esophageal pH <4.0 and esophageal acid clearance time were not significantly different during the 24-hour period or during the postprandial period. No adverse effects were observed, except for a slight reduction in muscle tone in one subject. CONCLUSIONS: In this 1-week trial, repetitive administration of baclofen reduced the frequency of emesis and the total number of acid refluxes in neurologically impaired children with GERD.