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Fast and Accurate Exhaled Breath Ammonia Measurement
Published on: June 11, 2014
Collection of breath for hydrogen estimation
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|February 1, 1981
Summary
Breath hydrogen testing aids in diagnosing pediatric gastrointestinal issues like sugar malabsorption. Several collection methods are adequate, with Rahn-Otis samplers recommended for infants and Haldane-Priestley tubes for older children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Diagnostic Testing
Background:
- Breath hydrogen testing is crucial for diagnosing pediatric gastrointestinal disorders.
- Common applications include identifying sugar malabsorption, assessing transit time, and detecting small-bowel bacterial overgrowth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy and acceptability of various breath hydrogen collection techniques in children.
- To determine the most suitable methods for different age groups.
Main Methods:
- Four breath collection techniques (postnasal catheter, nasal prong, Rahn-Otis end-tidal sampler, 'Wiggins's blowout') were evaluated against the Haldane-Priestley tube.
- Breath samples were collected from 3 adults after lactulose loads to assess hydrogen excretion variability.
Main Results:
- Variability between different breath hydrogen assay techniques was found to be less than the inherent variability within a single technique.
- All tested methods demonstrated adequacy for breath hydrogen collection.
Conclusions:
- The Rahn-Otis end-tidal sampler is recommended for young infants and children.
- The Haldane-Priestley tube is suggested for older children due to higher acceptability.
- Both methods provide reliable breath hydrogen collection for pediatric gastrointestinal investigations.
