• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.836-843
• /
• 1997

Background : The prevalence of Gastro-esophageal reflux(GER) in patients with asthma is estimated to be 50~60% and treatment of GER has been shown to improve asthma symptoms in Western. But GER has been known to be less common in Eastern and GER prevalence rates in asthmatics are not available in Korea. Method : We compared the prevalence rate of GER in 42 patients with asthma to that in 20 healthy normal controls and examed the efficacy of new prokinetic drug, cisapride(40mg/day, 8weeks) in patients with GER and asthma. For acid GER to be considered pathological, 24 hour esophageal pH monitoring should reveal values exceeding upper limit of 95 percentile for at least one of 6 parameter of DeMesseter's table. Result : The results showed GER was more common in patients with asthma(11/42, 26.2%) than normal controls(3/20, 15%) and asthmatics group showed a significant longer supine time pH<4(%) and total time pH<4(%), and more reflux episodes as compared with normal control group. After 4 asthmatics with GER were treated with cisapride, their asthma symtom scores, FEV1 and composite scores of pH monitoring were improved. Conclusion : GER is more common in asthmatics than in normal controls in Korea and prepulsid reduces asthma symptoms in patients with GER and asthma.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.183-186
• /
• 2003

Prolapse gastropathy is not uncommon in adult, but is not reported yet in previously healthy children. A 3-year-old child came to our emergency room after a 1-day history of emesis episodes with coffee-ground hematemesis. During the endoscopic procedure, and the process of retching and vomiting was observed and a tense knuckle of gastric mucosa was seen to be forcefully and repeated prolapsed into the distal esophageal mucosa, and mucosal hematoma was found in the gastric fundus. Upper gastrointestinal study revealed no abnormality and 24 hour pH monitoring revealed no pathologic gastroesophageal reflux. Retching is thought to cause the forceful prolapse and induce subsequent trauma of gastric mucosa. This case illustrates that the episodes of vigorous retching and resultant gastric mucosa are now considered to be the cause of the hematemesis and epigastric pain in children.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.28-32
• /
• 2006

Objectives : Non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) can be divided into gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) related NCCP and non-GERD related NCCP. Our study was designed to examine the differences in clinical characteristics and psychological mood states between the two clinical syndromes. Methods : After some cardiologic evaluations such as treadmill exercise, coronary angiography, and echocardiography, 27 patients with NCCP were enrolled in this study. They were divided into patients with GERD related NCCP (12 patients) and those with non-GERD related NCCP (15 patients) using the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and the ambulatory 24 hour esophageal pH monitoring. Clinical characteristics such as typical reflux symptoms and psychological mood states were measured. Patients who showed scores more than 10 on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) or Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were defined as depressed or anxious group. Anxiety sensitivity Index (ASI) was also measured in all patients. All parameters were compared between patients with GERD related NCCP and those with non-GERD related NCCP. Results : The two groups showed a difference in typical reflux symptoms. Patients with non-GERD related NCCP had higher scores on the BDI, BAI and ASI than those with GERD related NCCP. Among all NCCP patients, 14 patients (51.9%) were suggested to have possible depression or anxiety disorders. Conclusion : The non-GERD related NCCP was shown to be associated with psychological mood states such as anxiety and depression. Thus, we suggest that routine measurement of psychological mood states should be necessary in the evaluation and treatment of NCCP.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.27-36
• /
• 2008

Fundoplication is a common surgical procedure for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Recently the procedure has been performed with increased frequency laparoscopically. The aim of this study is to review our 11 years experience with fundoplication in infants and children. From October 1994 to December 2005, 59 fundoplications in 55 patients were performed at Sungkyunkwan University Samsung Medical Center. Medical records and laboratory results of these children were retrospectively reviewed for sex, age, symptoms and signs, coexisting disease, diagnostic methods, treatment modalities and length of operative time. Open fundoplication was performed in 41 cases and laparoscopic fundoplication in 18 cases. Simultaneous gastrostomy was done in 27 cases. Recurrent GERD symptom occurred in four patients (7.2 %) within 2 years after first fundoplication and all 4 patients had re-do fundoplication. There were no intra- and immediate post-operative complications. Gastrointesitnal symptoms were the most common indication for fundoplication in neurologically normal patients. The most frequent diagnostic studies were upper gastrointestinal series (76.3 %) and 24 hour esophageal pH monitoring (78.2 %). Fundoplication had been increased since 2004 and mostly done laparoscopically. In conclusion, our 11 years' practice of open and laparoscopic fundoplication indicates that both approaches are safe and effective in the treatment of GERD for infants and children.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.511-517
• /
• 2019

Purpose: On the basis of evidence, we aimed to reevaluate the necessity of the empirical proton pump inhibitor (PPI) trial for children with suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods: We analyzed the frequency of GERD in 85 school-age children with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) symptoms, who received 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and/or upper endoscopy. According to the reflux index (RI), the children were classified into normal (RI <5%), intermediate (5%${\leq}$ RI <10%), or abnormal (RI ${\geq}$10%) groups. Results: Fifty six were female and 29 were male. Their mean age was $12.6{\pm}0.5$ (${\pm}$standard deviation) years (range: 6.8-18.6). The RI analysis showed that the normal group included 76 patients (89.4%), the intermediate group included 6 patients (7.1%), and the abnormal group included 3 patients (3.5%). The DeMeester score was $5.93{\pm}4.65$, $14.68{\pm}7.86$ and $40.37{\pm}12.96$ for the normal, intermediate and abnormal group, respectively (p=0.001). The longest reflux time was $5.56{\pm}6.00$ minutes, $9.53{\pm}7.84$ minutes, and $19.46{\pm}8.35$ minutes in the normal, intermediate, and abnormal group, respectively (p=0.031). Endoscopic findings showed reflux esophagitis in 7 patients. On the basis of the Los Angeles Classification of Esophagitis, 5 of these patients were included in group A, 1 patient, in group B and 1 patient, in group C. Conclusion: The incidence of GERD was very low in school-age children with GER symptoms. Therefore, injudicious diagnostic PPI trials would be postponed until the actual prevalence of GERD is verified in future prospective studies.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.92-98
• /
• 2001

The dumping syndrome has been a known complication of gastric surgery in adults, but it is recognized as a very rare disease in the pediatric population, especially in Korea. We report a case of dumping syndrome in a 10-month-old infant, who underwent Nissen fundoplication for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux(GER). He was admitted because of aspiration pneumonia, and diagnosed as GER by 24-hour ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring test. For the treatment of GER, Nissen fundoplication was performed. After the operation, symptoms occurred within 30 minutes of meals, such as diaphoresis, palpitation, weakness, abdominal fullness, nausea, and diarrhea. The gastric emptying scan showed very rapid gastric emptying. His oral glucose tolerance tests revealed early-onset hyperglycema followed by delayed-onset hypoglycemia, which was the characteristic finding of the dumping syndrome. We introduced uncooked cornstarch to resolve symptoms and maintain the serum glucose level. After the feeding of uncooked cornstarch, his symptoms subsided and normal oral glucose test was restored. After the six months of treatment, his weight and height were increased dramatically from below 3 percentiles up to the normal range. The dumping syndrome should be considered when an infant suffers from the feeding difficulties after the gastric surgery like Nissen fundoplication, and the diet therapy including uncooked cornstarch could be applied as an effective measure.