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Surface electrogastrography in children with esophageal atresia

Pediatric Surgery International volume 12, pages 552–555 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

Surface electrogastrography was performed in 18 patients with esophageal atresia (EA) and 10 normal controls to investigate the possible role of a congenital enteric nerve defect as a cause of gastroesophageal reflux (GER), which is common after repair of EA. The means of the dominant frequencies and ranges of the frequency distribution were compared. The dominant frequencies (0.047+/-0.007 Hz) in the EA group did not differ significantly from those of the controls (0.050±0.007 Hz,P >0.1), although 2 patients had bradygastria and 2 had tachygastria in the EA group. The range of the frequency distribution was significantly wider in the EA group compared with normal children (P = 0.002). The wide frequency distribution in children with EA suggests disturbed electrical activity of the stomach, which could be associated with poor electromechanical coupling and, hence abnormal gastric contraction.

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Affiliations

  1. Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong

    W. Cheng

  2. Paediatric Surgery Unit, Institute of Child Health, and Department of Paediatric Surgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK

    L. Spitz

  3. Gastroenterology Unit, Institute of Child Health and Department of Gastroenterology, Great Ormont Street Hospital for Children, London, UK

    P. Milla

Authors
  1. W. Cheng
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  2. L. Spitz
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  3. P. Milla
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Cheng, W., Spitz, L. & Milla, P. Surface electrogastrography in children with esophageal atresia. Pediatr Surg Int 12, 552–555 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01371898

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01371898

Key words

  • Electrogastrography
  • Gastroesophageal reflux
  • Esophageal atresia