Emptying In Children Research Articles

Liquid and solid gastric emptying and correlation with clinical characteristics in pediatric patients with dyspepsia.

There is limited data on gastric emptying in dyspeptic children. We aimed to determine solid and liquid emptying rates in dyspeptic children and correlate with clinical characteristics. Charts of dyspeptic children undergoing 4-hour dual-phase gastric scintigraphy were reviewed for demographics, symptoms, and comorbidities. In 1078 dyspeptic patients (65% females, median age 13 years) vomiting (55%), nausea (53%), and abdominal pain (52%) were the most common symptoms. The most common comorbidities were mental health (32%), neurologic (27%), and hypermobility spectrum disorders (20%). Solid and liquid emptying rates were aligned in 61.23%. Delayed solid with normal liquid emptying were noted in 2.5%, compared to delayed liquid with normal solid emptying in 26.16%. Abdominal pain had a trend for association with delayed or normal solid emptying (p = 0.06). Nausea was mostly reported with normal solid emptying (p < 0.0001) and underreported in patients <12 years with vomiting (29%). Abnormal solid emptying (rapid and delayed) was noted more frequently in children with mental health disorders (p = 0.027). Rapid liquid emptying was more common in children with genetic disorders (p = 0.032). Over half of children with dyspepsia had delayed liquid gastric emptying, and one quarter had delayed liquid with normal solid emptying. Dual-phase gastric emptying studies may help target therapy in dyspeptic children. Nausea is not a reliable symptom for dyspepsia in younger children. Given the significant association of abnormal gastric emptying in children with mental health disorders, we recommend screening and treating children with dyspepsia.

Preoperative fasting among children who undergoing surgery

Background. This review aims to discuss the definition of preoperative fasting in terms of gastric emptying in children prepared for surgery, to discuss the conflict between preoperative fasting duration and volume, and to explain the benefits and hazards associated with fasting which may contribute to physical distress or well-being. Materials and methods. A search in CINAHL, EBSCO, Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed, and the MЕDLINE database was conducted. The search generated 150 articles, 17 articles were included in this review. Results. The review revealed that preoperative fasting is one of the safe measures that should be concerned by all health care providers, at the same time focusing on the comprehensive assessment before surgery which helps in the prediction of hazards that may expose children to dangers. Conclusions. A major conflict is to have a policy for preoperative fasting, so new guidelines for children who undergo surgery should be applied and implemented.

The impact of clean intermittent catheterization on students and families in the school environment.

Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) is often used for bladder emptying in children with lower urinary tract dysfunction. Until recently, the emphasis in assessing the effects of CIC has been on preserving kidney function, reducing urinary tract infection, and achieving urinary continence. Few studies have investigated the impact of CIC on students and families in a school setting. This study sought to examine what students and caregivers experienced when CIC was required during the school day and how schools adjusted to a student needing to perform it. A phenomenological approach utilizing semistructured interviews was performed to understand the impact of CIC on students. Purposeful sampling identified eligible families. A guide was developed from expert opinion validated by a pilot sample with feedback collated into a family/provider codesigned questionnaire. Interviews emphasized the impact and challenges students faced at school. Transcripts were coded using Dedoose software with emerging themes identified and a code book was created for closed coding that led to thematic analysis. A total of 40 families (52 caregivers and children > 12 years) were interviewed. Emergent themes included: Caregivers and students felt (1) school personnel were not always aware of nor prepared regarding the implications of CIC; (2) school bathrooms were often less than ideal (e.g., location, size, cleanliness, privacy, and availability); and (3) student participation in extracurricular activities was challenging. This study identifies potential areas of intervention in meeting the needs of students who require CIC and the importance of having collaborative efforts of caregivers, health care providers, and school personnel in addressing and meeting CIC needs. Care coordination that involves consistent communication and careful planning between health care teams, school personnel, students, and caregivers can optimize a student's educational experience.

Transpyloric propagation and liquid gastric emptying in children with foregut dysmotility.

Gastric emptying (GE) requires precise antropyloroduodenal coordination for effective transpyloric flow, the mechanisms of which are still unclear. We aimed to correlate gastric antral function assessed by antroduodenal manometry (ADM) with GE scintigraphy (GES) for liquid feeds in children with suspected gastrointestinal dysmotility. Children who underwent both ADM and GES over a five-year period were reviewed. ADM tracings were re-analyzed to assess antral frequency, amplitude, and motility index (MI) pre-prandially and postprandially. Transpyloric propagation (TPP) was defined as antegrade propagated antral activity preceding duodenal phase III of the migrating motor complex (MMC). TPP was defined as "poor" if occurring in <50% of all presented duodenal phases III. For GES, regions of interest over the whole stomach, fundus, and antrum were drawn to calculate GE half-time (GE-T1/2 ) and retention rate (RR) in each region at 1 and 2h. Forty-seven children (median age: 7.0years) were included. Twenty-two had PIPO, 14 functional GI disorders, and 11gastroparesis. Children with poor TPP had longer GE-T1/2 (113.0 vs 66.5min, p=0.028), higher RR of the whole stomach and fundus at 1h (79.5% vs 63.5%, p=0.038; 60.0% vs 41.0%, p=0.022, respectively) and 2h (51.0% vs 10.5%, p=0.005; 36.0% vs 6.5%, p=0.004, respectively). The pre-prandial antral amplitude of contractions inversely correlated with GE-T1/2 , RR of the whole stomach, and fundus at 2h. TPP during phase III of the MMC correlated with gastric emptying of liquid and its assessment on ADM might predict abnormalities in postprandial gastric function.

A245 DETERMINING THE PREVALENCE OF DELAYED GASTRIC EMPTYING IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH CONSTIPATION USING NUCLEAR SCINTIGRAPHY

BackgroundGastrointestinal motility is coordinated by complex neurohormonal circuits existing between different segments of the gastrointestinal tract. It has been hypothesized that one of these pathways, the “cologastric brake,” acts as a negative feedback system to inhibit gastric motility when there is loading of stool within the colon in conditions such as constipation.AimsTo assess gastric emptying in pediatric patients presenting with constipation using whole-gut nuclear scintigraphy. We hypothesize that children with constipation are likely to exhibit delayed gastric emptying due to neurohormonal pathways such as the cologastric brake.MethodsA retrospective review of all patients under 18 years of age who underwent a whole-gut nuclear scintigraphy study for the work-up of constipation at The Hospital for Sick Children between January 2014 and May 2021 was completed. Demographic and clinical data at the time of presentation was summarized. The proportion of patients with delayed gastric emptying and delayed small and large bowel transit were calculated. Exploratory univariable analyses were performed to identify clinical predictors of delayed gastric emptying.ResultsThis study identified 140 patients meeting inclusion criteria of whom 72 were male (51.4%), (meanage = 10.04 ± 4.79). The prevalence of patients with delayed gastric emptying was 61.9% (n = 86). Despite this, only 5.0% (n = 7) and 21.8% (n = 29) had delayed small and large bowel transit respectively. Children with delayed gastric emptying were significantly younger (meanage = 9.15 ± 4.60) than those with normal gastric emptying (meanage = 11.53 ± 4.79), p = .01. A chi-square test of independence showed that there was no significant relationship between use of a promotility agent and delayed gastric emptying ( p = .48). There was also no significant association between the presence of upper gastrointestinal symptoms and delayed gastric emptying ( p = .79).ConclusionsWe found that children with constipation have a high prevalence of delayed gastric emptying. However, only a small proportion of these patients have delayed bowel transit. This supports the idea that delayed gastric emptying in children with constipation is likely not due to intrinsic neuromuscular defects of the gut but rather, secondary to a neurohormonal “cologastric brake.” This is important information for clinicians as it suggests that a key step in managing delayed gastric emptying in this scenario is to treat patients’ constipation as opposed to initiating therapies, such as prokinetic agents, which attempt to directly improve gastric emptying.Funding AgenciesNone

Состояние моторно-эвакуаторной функции желудка у детей с диффузным нетоксическим зобом

Актуальность. Доказано, что почти в 2,5 раза чаще патологией органов пищеварения страдают школьники с болезнями щитовидной железы, в том числе с диффузным нетоксическим зобом (ДНЗ). Цель: изучить особенности моторно-эвакуаторной функции желудка у детей с диффузным нетоксическим зобом. Материалы и методы. Основную группу составили дети с зобом (89 человек), группу сравнения — дети (84 человека) без отклонений со стороны щитовидной железы. Проводилось многоплановое анкетирование, ультрасонографическое исследование щитовидной железы и функциональное ультрасонографическое исследование желудка. Результаты. Распространенность зоба среди детей Буковины составила 53,3 %. Частота функциональных расстройств органов пищеварения у детей обеих групп составляла 27,55 ± 2,17 %: у детей с ДНЗ — 33,9 ± 2,3 %, у детей без ДНЗ — 21,4 ± 1,3 %, p &lt; 0,05. Нарушения моторно-эвакуаторной функции желудка установлены у 12 детей с ДНЗ (11,6 %) и 6 (8,5 %) детей без ДНЗ. Чаще всего эти нарушения регистрировались у детей с функциональной диспепсией. Выводы. Установлена достоверно более высокая частота функциональных расстройств пищеварительной системы у детей с диффузным нетоксическим зобом, в том числе нарушений моторно-эвакуаторной функции желудка. Санация соматической патологии позволит уменьшить частоту неблагоприятного течения ДНЗ у детей и подростков.

Implementation of a Timed Barium Esophagram Protocol for Assessment of Esophageal Function in Children.

Timed barium esophagram (TBE) is a fluoroscopic study that is widely employed as an adjunctive tool for diagnosing esophageal emptying disorders in adults (eg, achalasia, esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction [EGJOO]) and for following response to treatment. We aimed to describe the characteristics and feasibility of a pediatric TBE protocol and provide a first report of the potential value of TBE for assessment of esophageal emptying in the pediatric population. Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients at a tertiary pediatric hospital who underwent TBE from October 2017 to October 2019. Patient and test characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics. Results from patients who had both TBE and high-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) were used to generate ROC curves for TBE to identify esophageal emptying disorders. Twenty-two patients underwent 25 TBE. Fourteen of 23 (61%) received 150 mL barium volume per protocol. Nearly half (42%) of subjects could tolerate ingesting barium within 20 seconds. Nine individuals underwent HRM. The sensitivity of standard adult TBE criteria (1 cm barium column height at 5 minutes) to detect emptying disorder was 100%, specificity 40%. A modified diagnostic cutoff (1.6 cm height at 5 minutes) offered 100% sensitivity, 80% specificity. TBE is feasible and should be considered an adjunctive noninvasive screen for impaired esophageal emptying in children. There was heterogeneous adherence to protocol for timing and volume of barium; however, studies remained interpretable. This population may benefit from different diagnostic cutoffs than adults, and clinical judgment should be used until specific diagnostic cutoffs are determined in children.

Gastric emptying in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A pilot study

Delayed gastric emptying (GE) has been demonstrated in adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Little is known about GE in children with T1DM. Most methods to measure GE are invasive, that is, scintigraphy, or are only indirectly related to GE, that is, electrogastrography. Carbon-13 breath testing is a non-invasive, very low-risk procedure that accurately correlates with GE time. This was a pilot study to determine the feasibility of using carbon-13 breath testing to measure GE in children with T1DM and healthy controls. Cases were recruited from children aged 7-15 years presenting to the paediatric diabetic clinic at Christchurch Hospital. Controls were peers of the cases. Children with known gastrointestinal disease were excluded. After an overnight fast, each child ate a standardised pancake labelled with carbon-13 sodium octanoate. Samples of breath were collected over a 4-h period. Samples were analysed by mass spectrometry. GE half time (GET1/2 ) and GE coefficients (GEC) were calculated by linear regression to obtain a measure of GE. A total of 19 cases and 15 age- and gender-matched controls underwent testing. The mean GEC in the cases was 3.19 (±0.38) and 2.90 (±0.29) in controls (P = 0.03), with an effect size = 0.86. Mean GET1/2 in the cases was 99 (52.1) min and 103 (27.5) in controls (P = 0.8), with an effect size = 0.1. The study generated results suggesting that a larger study will be worthwhile to investigate the relationship between GE and T1DM.

The Effect of Gastrostomy Placement on Gastric Function in Children: a Prospective Cohort Study

BackgroundA gastrostomy placement is frequently performed in pediatric patients who require long-term enteral tube feeding. Unfortunately, postoperative complications such as leakage, feeding intolerance, and gastroesophageal reflux frequently occur. These complications may be due to postoperative gastric dysmotility. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of gastrostomy placement on gastric emptying in children. MethodsA prospective study was performed including 50 children undergoing laparoscopic gastrostomy. Before and 3 months after gastrostomy, assessment was performed using the 13C-octanoic acid breath test, 24-h pH monitoring, and reflux symptom questionnaires. ResultsGastric half-emptying time significantly increased from the 57th to the 79th percentile (p < 0.001) after gastrostomy (p < 0.001). Fifty percent of patients with normal preoperative gastric emptying develop delayed gastric emptying (DGE, P > 95) after gastrostomy (p = 0.01). Most patients (≥75%) with leakage and/or feeding intolerance after gastrostomy had DGE after operation. A decrease in gastric emptying was associated with an increase in esophageal acid exposure time (r = 0.375, p < 0.001). ConclusionGastrostomy placement in children causes a significant delay in gastric emptying. Postoperative DGE was associated with gastroesophageal reflux and was found in most patients with postoperative leakage and feeding intolerance. These negative physiologic effects should be taken into account when considering gastrostomy placement in children.

Bladder and bowel dysfunction in children: An update on the diagnosis and treatment of a common, but underdiagnosed pediatric problem

Bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD) describes a spectrum of lower urinary symptoms (LUTS) accompanied by fecal elimination issues that manifest primarily by constipation and/or encopresis. This increasingly common entity is a potential cause of significant physical and psychosocial burden for children and families. BBD is commonly associated with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), which at its extreme may lead to renal scarring and kidney failure. Additionally, BBD is frequently seen in children diagnosed with behavioural and neuropsychiatric disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Patients with concomitant BBD and neuropsychiatric disorders have less favourable treatment outcomes. Early diagnosis and treatment of BBD are critical to avoid secondary comorbidities that can adversely impact children's kidney and bladder function, and psychosocial well-being. The majority of patients will improve with urotherapy, adequate fluid intake, and constipation treatment. Pharmacological treatment must only be considered if no improvement occurs after intensive adherence to at least six months of urotherapy ± biofeedback and constipation treatment. Anticholinergics remain the mainstay of medical treatment. Selective alpha-blockers appear to be effective for improving bladder emptying in children with non-neurogenic detrusor overactivity (DO), incontinence, recurrent UTIs, and increased post-void residual (PVR) urine volumes. Alpha-1 blockers can also be used in combination with anticholinergics when overactive bladder (OAB) coexists with functional bladder outlet obstruction. Minimally invasive treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA bladder injections, and recently neurostimulation, are promising alternatives for the management of BBD refractory to behavioural and pharmacological treatment. In this review, we discuss clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, and indications for behavioural, pharmacological, and surgical treatment of BBD in children based on a thorough literature review. Expert opinion will be used when scientific evidence is unavailable.

Assessment of gastric emptying in children: Establishment of control values utilizing a standardized vegetarian meal.

Disorders of gastric emptying constitute an important group of conditions in children. The diagnostic gold standard is scintigraphy, and recommendations for standardization have been published with adult normative data. Pediatric literature lacks standardized age specific normative values. Our aim was to establish normal values of solid phase gastric emptying utilizing scintigraphy in children (5-18 years) using the recommended imaging protocol and standardized meal. Gastric emptying was assessed by scintigraphy of a (99m) Tc-labeled vegetarian meal. Image acquisition was dynamic for first hour and static at 2, 3, and 4 h. Results were reported as percent intragastric retention; lag phase defined as time to 5% emptying. Thirty (17 boys) healthy children, mean ages of 9.5 ± 3.1 (range 5 to 16) years, were enrolled. Median values (5th and 95th percentiles) for percent gastric retention at 30 min, 1, 2, 3 and 4 h were 90% (76 and 100%), 77% (56 and 96%), 33% (10 and 71%), 16% (3 and 44%), and 7% (0.5 and 22%). The median (5th and 95th percentiles) lag phase was 18 min (6 and 60 min). Lag phase had no correlation with gastric retention at 4 h. This study provides valuable normative ranges for solid phase gastric emptying in children. Using adult normative data in children may be inappropriate.

Delayed Gastric Emptying in Children and Adolescents with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Orthostatic Intolerance (OI)

Delayed Gastric Emptying in Children and Adolescents with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Orthostatic Intolerance (OI)

Systematic review of the impact of feed protein type and degree of hydrolysis on gastric emptying in children.

BackgroundThe choice of infant formula is thought to play an important role on gastric emptying (GE) in a variety of gastrointestinal disorders. It is known that many ingredients impact on GE, including the type of protein and level of hydrolysis. In clinical practice, feeds are often recommended due to putative improved GE related to the type of protein and level of hydrolysis, however whether this is scientifically justified still needs to be established. A systematic review comparing the impact of protein type and hydrolysis on GE in children was therefore performed.MethodsThe Patient, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome system was used. A structured literature search was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines, searching PubMed, Cochrane databases and Google Scholar from 1990 to 2014. We only included articles published in full text English language using specific search terms, including both scintigraphy and C13-octanoic acid breath test.ResultsWe identified 126 publications of which 20 were eligible for inclusion but only 8 were included. Studies reviewed GE in both healthy children as well as those with neurodevelopmental delay and reflux. Two studies investigating GE of breast milk versus formula indicated a faster GE for breast milk. Four studies found that feeds containing whole whey in varying amounts emptied faster than predominant whole casein feeds and one study found no difference in GE. Five studies investigated a mix of whole versus hydrolysed protein and found conflicting results related to study population and hydrolysis.ConclusionsBreast milk has a faster GE than formula milk. Although there seems to be a trend towards whey feeds emptying faster, different methodologies, feed compositions and patient groups makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions. Future studies should be performed with comparable feeds in populations where increased GE may be of clinical benefit.

Plasma ghrelin and liquid gastric emptying in children with functional dyspepsia consistent with post-prandial distress syndrome.

Adult studies indicate a role for ghrelin in functional dyspepsia (FD) mediated through ghrelin's effect on gastric emptying (GE). This study examines the relationship between ghrelin, liquid GE, and pain in children with FD. Thirteen FD patients reporting symptoms consistent with post-prandial distress syndrome (PDS) and 17 healthy controls were enrolled. All participants received a liquid meal containing (13) C-sodium acetate. Pain severity, liquid GE utilizing exhaled (13) CO2 from the sodium acetate breath tests (ABT), plasma acyl ghrelin (AG), and des-acyl ghrelin concentrations were measured at specific intervals over 240 min following ingestion. FD-PDS patients demonstrated lower mean baseline AG (14.8 ± 9.7 vs 27.2 ± 14.0 fmol/mL; p = 0.013), AG Cmax (24.6 ± 8.2 vs 40.5 ± 16.8 fmol/mL; p = 0.007), and AG flux (18.2 ± 7.8 vs 32.7 ± 17.3 fmol/mL; p = 0.015) than controls. The time to reach maximum exhaled (13) CO2 concentration (T max ) was longer in FD patients than controls (47.5 ± 18.5 vs 35.8 ± 11.8 min; p = 0.046). Significant relationships between ghrelin analyte ratios and ABT parameters were largely confined to control participants. FD-PDS in children is associated with lower fasting and maximum AG concentrations, and dampened AG flux. These data suggest a possible role for altered ghrelin physiology in the pathogenesis of PDS.

Nausea Predicts Delayed Gastric Emptying in Children

To assess whether the gastroparesis cardinal symptom index (GCSI), or any individual symptom, is associated with delayed gastric emptying in children, and to assess understanding of symptoms associated with delayed gastric emptying. Fifty children (36 F), 5-18 years of age, undergoing gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, completed Likert-type GCSI and symptom comprehension questionnaires. Correlation of GES results (normal or abnormal) with questionnaire results using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Seventy percent of subjects had a normal GES. Children reported understanding most terms of GCSI (average score 2.59, range 0-3). The GCSI was not associated with delayed gastric emptying. Nausea was associated with delayed gastric emptying only (numerical P = .04, word P = .02). Results were not altered when poorly understood terms were excluded. The GCSI is not associated with delayed gastric emptying in children. Lack of association does not seem to be related to lack of understanding. Nausea alone was the only symptom that showed an association with delayed gastric emptying on GES.

Gastric emptying in children with gastroesophageal reflux and in healthy children

PurposeThe aim of this report is to examine whether children with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) have delayed gastric emptying compared to healthy children. MethodsAll patients had GER verified by 24-hour pH monitoring. Gastric emptying of cow’s milk was examined by radionuclide scintigraphy in 51 patients with GER and in 24 controls. Gastric emptying rate was expressed as exponential half time (T1/2). ResultsMedian age was 4.4years [range 0.1–15.4] in patients and 6.1years [range 2.5–10.0] in controls (p=.10). A wide range of gastric emptying rates was observed both in GER patients [range 16–121] and controls [range 29–94]. One GER patient (2%) had slower gastric emptying (T1/2=121min) than the healthy child with the longest T1/2 (94min). Mean T1/2 was 49minutes (SD 20.1) and 46minutes (SD 14.2) in GER patients and controls, respectively (p=.51). ConclusionsGastric emptying rate of milk was not significantly different between children with GER and healthy children. A wide range of gastric emptying rates was observed in both groups.

Su1112 Nausea and Bloating: Predictors of Delayed Gastric Emptying in Children

Su1112 Nausea and Bloating: Predictors of Delayed Gastric Emptying in Children

Su1108 Relationship of Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Psychological Distress to Gastric Emptying in Children Undergoing Gastric Emptying Scintigraphy

and the number of servings of fruits, vegetables, caffeinated beverages, and dariy products consumed on a typical day. RESULTS: Out of 26 cases who completed both questionnaires, N=16 showed an improvement of .1 point in GI symptom scores (on a scale = 0-40), with 10 showing no change (N=6) or worse symptoms (N=4). In the group that showed improvement, the following factors improved as well: Anxiety (M= 5.42 in spring; M= 3.11 in summer, p,0.003), parental protective responses (M=14.7 in spring, M=11.9 in summer, p,0.05), vegetable consumption (M=2.71 in spring, M=1.62 in summer, p,0.048), intense physical activity (M=1.69 in spring, M=1.00 in summer, p,0.024) and sleep quality (M= 31.3 in spring, M=36.1 in summer, p,0.009). The degree of change in pain was correlated with the degree of change in fast food (r=.76), caffeine (r=.63), protectiveness (r=-.36), and free time (r=.40). In the group who did not show improvement in pain or pain deteriorated during the summer, a decrease in stress level (M=2.10 in spring, M=1.50 in summer, p,0.024) was observed. Degree of changes in pain were correlated with degree of changes in skipping of breakfast (r=.45), vegetable consumption (r=-.72), and caffeine (r=.46). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to identify factors that may explain seasonal variation in FAP. If abdominal pain improves, anxiety, sleep quality, vegetable consumption, parental response to child's pain and physical activity also show improvements during the summer. We do not know from this pilot work if these factors cause or result from the changes in abdominal pain. Longitudinal studies with larger samples are needed. This type of research is important in revealing future targets in the prevention and management of FAP.

Gastroesophageal Reflux, Esophageal Function, Gastric Emptying, and the Relationship to Dysphagia before and after Antireflux Surgery in Children

To assess gastroesophageal reflux (GER), esophageal motility, and gastric emptying in children before and after laparoscopic fundoplication and to identify functional measures associated with postoperative dysphagia. Combined impedance-manometry, 24-hour pH-impedance, and gastric-emptying breath tests were performed before and after laparoscopic anterior partial fundoplication. Impedance-manometry studies were analyzed with the use of conventional analysis methods and a novel automated impedance manometry (AIM) analysis. Children with therapy resistent GER disease (n=25) were assessed before fundoplication, of whom 10 (median age 6.4 years; range, 1.1-17.1 years; 7 male; 4 with neurologic impairment) underwent fundoplication. GER episodes reduced from 97 (69-172) to 66 (18-87)/24 hours (P=.012). Peristaltic contractions were unaltered. Complete lower esophageal sphincter relaxations decreased after fundoplication (92% [76%-100%] vs 65% [29%-91%], P=.038). Four (40%) patients developed postoperative dysphagia, which was transient in 2. In those patients, preoperative gastric emptying was delayed compared with patients without postoperative dysphagia, 96 minutes (71-104 minutes) versus 48 minutes (26-68 minutes), P=.032, and AIM analysis derived dysphagia risk index was greater (56 [15-105] vs 2 [2-6] P=.016). Two patients underwent a repeat fundoplication. Fundoplication in children reduced GER without altering esophageal motility. Four patients who developed dysphagia demonstrated slower gastric emptying and greater dysplasia risk index preoperatively. AIM analysis may allow detection of subtle esophageal abnormalities potentially leading to postoperative dysphagia.

Gastric Emptying in Children

The geometric mean is the recommended method for calculating gastric emptying in adults to correct for variable attenuation during the study. In children, it has been reported that a single posterior acquisition is sufficient. Our objective was to evaluate the relation between the values of gastric emptying in children obtained by posterior view only and by the geometric mean of conjugate anterior and posterior views. The gastric residual of a standard meal was calculated in 81 children of different ages. The calculation of the gastric residual was performed with different methods, posterior only and geometric mean of anterior and posterior acquisitions. The variation between these 2 methods was evaluated in different age groups and different body weights. There was a high correlation (r = 0.942) between the values using posterior as compared with geometric mean for all of the patients. For children younger than 8 years and weighing <30 kg, there was no significant difference between the 2 methods for either liquid or solid meals (P = 0.89 and P = 0.11 for age; P = 0.95 and P = 0.80 for weight). For children older than 8 years and weighing >30 kg, there was no significant difference between the 2 methods for liquids (P = 0.57 for age; P = 0.69 for weight), but there was a significant difference with solids (P < 0.0001 for both age and weight). In children younger than 8 years and weighing <30 kg, acquisition of a single posterior image is sufficient for calculating gastric emptying at 1 hour postingestion for either liquid or solid meals. In children older than 8 years and weighing >30 kg, acquisition of both anterior and posterior images with geometric mean calculation is recommended when a solid meal is used. If a liquid meal is used in patients older than 8 years, the posterior only may be adequate.