[Gastroesophageal reflux in neurologic patients]

Sixteen among the 129 children operated upon for GER in the last 9 years had neurologic diseases with psychomotor retardation. Average age at diagnosis was advanced (90 months) although most patients vomited since infancy and more than 50% had haemorrhage as a sign of oesophagitis which was endoscopically confirmed in 10 cases. Prolonged acid exposure as proven by extended pH-metry was due to motor failure with incompetence of the LES and abnormal peristalsis (aside with other minor factors) as we could demonstrate manometrically. Surgical treatment achieved good results in almost all cases and we think that there is no reason not to offer its benefits to this group of patients. GER is more frequent and severe in brain damaged patients than it can be judged by the scarce number of them operated upon in our country. It must be looked after in them and treated appropriately whenever complications make it advisable.