Open AccessNovel Use of Impedance Technology Shows That Esophageal Air Events Can Be Temporally Associated With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease‐like Symptoms
Author(s) -
Woodley Frederick W.,
Ciciora Steven L.,
Vaz Karla,
Williams Kent,
Di Lorenzo Carlo,
Jadcherla Sudarshan
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1536-4801
pISSN - 0277-2116
DOI - 10.1097/mpg.0000000000002514
Subject(s) - gerd , medicine , reflux , etiology , crying , disease , gastroenterology , psychiatry
A few studies have shown that esophageal air events (EAEs), such as air‐swallows, may be associated with symptoms that have historically been associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). To objectively test a hypothesis that all EAE types (air‐swallows, supragastric belches and gastric belches) can be associated with GERD‐like symptoms, we removed the impedance “tags” from the GER episodes (placed during autoscan) and instead tagged either air‐swallows, supragastric belches or gastric belches in each of 3 copies of the 24‐hour impedance tracing for 2 infant patients who presented with symptoms suggestive of GER as an etiology. Impedance system software (MMS) analyses revealed that, in both infants, all EAE types were significantly associated (SAP >95%) with 1 or more of the GERD‐like symptom types (cough, pain/crying, back‐arching, and gagging). These data underscore the importance of considering other diagnoses when developing management strategies for treating GERD‐like symptoms in infants.