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Published on: August 25, 2015
Gastroesophageal reflux disease as a cause for emesis in infants
1Department of Surgery, Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, USA.
Insights
Vomiting in infants may signal gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Extended esophageal pH monitoring is key for diagnosis and guiding treatment for infants with GERD and vomiting.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Vomiting is a common symptom in infants with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- While not the most frequent symptom, its presence warrants thorough investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the importance of comprehensive evaluation for infant vomiting potentially caused by GERD.
- To highlight the role of diagnostic procedures in confirming GERD and guiding treatment.
Main Methods:
- Clinical history and physical examination are initial steps.
- Sophisticated diagnostic procedures, particularly extended esophageal pH monitoring, are utilized.
- pH monitoring helps confirm GERD and assess its link to respiratory issues.
Main Results:
- Extended esophageal pH monitoring is the most reliable method for GERD diagnosis.
- This monitoring provides crucial prognostic information and clarifies GERD's relationship with respiratory symptoms.
- Findings inform the selection of optimal antireflux therapies.
Conclusions:
- Accurate diagnosis of GERD in infants presenting with vomiting is essential.
- Extended esophageal pH monitoring is vital for confirming GERD and directing management.
- Reevaluation of infants with suspected recurrent GERD post-surgery requires the same diagnostic rigor.
Abstract:
Vomiting is a very common symptom associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in infancy, although no longer the most common symptom seen in infants with GERD. A thorough evaluation of these patients with clinical history, physical examination, and sophisticated diagnostic procedures is necessary to identify that the vomiting is from GERD. Extended esophageal pH monitoring is the most reliable diagnostic procedure used to confirm the presence or absence of GERD, and provides additional information regarding prognosis and the relationship of the GERD to respiratory complaints. The latter information allows the clinician to determine the optimal type of antireflux therapy offered to the vomiting infant with GERD. Reevaluation of the vomiting infant with suspected recurrent GERD after antireflux operation should not differ from the evaluation performed in an untreated infant with vomiting from suspected GERD.
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