35 Electrogastrography in healthy participants: comparison of children and adults

Abstract

The current study examined whether electrogastrogram (EGG) patterns differ between children/adolescents and adults, including whether EGG recordings obtained from healthy children would be considered normal by standards established for adults. Twenty‐eight healthy children (54% females; ages 8–17, M = 12.4 years) were evaluated and compared to 15 healthy adults. EGGs were recorded for 30 min in the fasting state and for 1 h following a standard meal. For both pediatric and adult participants, there was a significant increase in both the dominant frequency and the dominant power from the pre‐ to the post – prandial period (p < 0.001 for each). There was a significant post‐prandial increase in the %normal slow waves in pediatric participants only (81.5 vs. 89.0% vs. p < 0.001). Children demonstrated a significantly lower mean fasting %normal slow waves (81.5% vs. 94.2%) and a significantly greater fasting % tachygastria (8.9% vs. 2.3%) than did adults. Other parameters did not differ. Using adult standards, the %normal slow waves were ≥70% of recording time in 96% children in the fasting state and in 100% in the postprandial period. A postprandial power increase was seen in 89% of the children. In conclusion, while adults should not be used as controls in pediatric studies of EGG, our data would indicate that American Motility Society (AMS) consensus adult criteria for a normal EGG are appropriate to apply to children and adolescents when utilizing methodology and meal challenge similar to that used to establish the adult norms.