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Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate gastric emptying in children with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) by means of real-time ultrasonography, on the basis of measurements of the cross-sectional area of the gastric antrum. Twelve children with GER were studied (seven males, five females; age range, 3-13 months) and compared with 12 normal control children (six males, six females; age range, 3-13 months). The diagnosis of GER was confirmed by 24-h esophageal pH-monitoring. The GER patients had a significantly greater antral area than the controls at 90, 105, and 120 min after eating a standard meal (cow's milk formula, 300ml/m2 body surface area); in addition, final gastric emptying time was significantly greater in the patients than in the controls (145 ± 36.9 versus 78.7 ± 19.3 min; (p < 0.0025). After 8 weeks of treatment with cisapride (0.3 ml/kg, three times a day) 24-h esophageal pH-monitoring and ultrasonography studies were repeated in the patients. The total percentage reflux time was significantly lower (p < 0.038), and ultrasonography showed a decreased antral area at all the various study times, with no significant difference between patients and controls; final gastric emptying time was also significantly lower than before treatment (p < 0.009). Furthermore, in the GER patients there was a significant correlation between gastric emptying time and the sum of the various reflux times recorded in the 2 h after all meals over the 24 h. Barium roentgenography of the stomach in 10 subjects in all cases confirmed the ultrasound findings with regard to the presence or absence of contents within the stomach.