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Esophageal Impedance/pH Monitoring in Pediatric Patients: Preliminary Experience with 50 Cases

Digestive Diseases and Sciences volume 51, pages 2341–2347 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

This paper describes multiple intraluminal impedance (MII) in 50 children with typical and atypical gastroesophageal reflux (GER) symptoms and discusses the possible clinical significance of objective numeric data provided by MII computed analysis. Patients underwent 24-hr pH/MII monitoring. Reflux parameters were analyzed with relation to age and reported symptoms. Nonacidic MII events occurred as frequently as acidic ones. A Pathologic Bolus Exposure Index associated with a normal pH Reflux Index was detected in 26% of our series. Significant correlations were found regarding acid and bolus clearing times and their ratio.

We conclude that the low rate of symptom occurrence in the pediatric population represents a limit on MII evaluation. Our study confirmed that nonacid GER is at least as frequent as acid GER. As MII provides interesting objective data that could be used in clinical practice, we suggest further research to define normal ranges in the pediatric population.

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Affiliations

  1. Division and Chair of Pediatric Surgery, Giannina Gaslini Institute, University of Genoa, Largo G. Gaslini 5, 16148, Genoa, Italy

    Girolamo Mattioli, Alessio Pini-Prato, Valerio Gentilino, Enrica Caponcelli, Stefano Avanzini, Claudio Vella & Vincenzo Jasonni

  2. Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Scientific Directorate, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy

    Stefano Parodi

  3. Pediatric Pneumonology Unit, Giannina Gaslini Institute, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

    Giovanni A. Rossi

  4. Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy

    Pietro Tuo

  5. Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy

    Paolo Gandullia

Authors
  1. Girolamo Mattioli
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  2. Alessio Pini-Prato
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  3. Valerio Gentilino
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  4. Enrica Caponcelli
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  5. Stefano Avanzini
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  6. Stefano Parodi
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  7. Giovanni A. Rossi
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  8. Pietro Tuo
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  9. Paolo Gandullia
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  10. Claudio Vella
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  11. Vincenzo Jasonni
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Correspondence to Alessio Pini-Prato.

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Mattioli, G., Pini-Prato, A., Gentilino, V. et al. Esophageal Impedance/pH Monitoring in Pediatric Patients: Preliminary Experience with 50 Cases. Dig Dis Sci 51, 2341–2347 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9374-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9374-z

Keywords

  • Gastroesophageal reflux
  • Impedance
  • pHmetry
  • Atypical symptoms
  • Childhood