Guidelines for evaluation and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease in children – Recommendations of the Croatian Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition of the Croatian Medical Association
Autori:
Oleg Jadrešin, Ranka Despot, Iva Hojsak, Sanja Kolaček, Vlatka Konjik, Zrinjka Mišak, Ana Močić Pavić, Goran Palčevski, Barbara Perše, Irena Senečić-Čala, Duška Tješić-Drinković, Jurica Vuković, Orjena Žaja
Sažetak
Summary
Gastroesophageal reflux is defined as the passage of gastric contents into the esophagus with or without regurgitation and/or vomiting. Reflux is pathologic when it leads to troublesome symptoms and/or complications (gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD). Symptoms of GERD are unspecific, age-dependent and sometimes difficult to relate to reflux. Each child with alarm symptoms should be evaluated further to identify a possible disease that may mimic reflux symptoms. Multichannel intraluminal impedance is used to correlate troublesome symptoms with acid and non-acid events, determine the efficacy of acid suppression therapy and differentiate non-erosive reflux disease, hypersensitive esophagus and functional heartburn. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsies is recommended to assess complications of GERD and if mucosal disease is suspected. Esophageal manometry is indicated when a motility disorder is suspected. Barium contrast studies and ultrasonography are used to exclude anatomical abnormalities. Four to eight week trial of proton pump inhibitors for typical symptoms (heartburn, retrosternal or epigastric pain) may be used as a diagnostic test, except in infants and children with extraesophageal symptoms. Non-pharmacological treatment includes thickened feedings, positional therapy, modification of feeding volumes and frequency and a 2 – 4 week trial of extensively hydrolyzed formula in infants. Antacids/alginates should not be used for chronic treatment of GERD. Proton pump inhibitors are preferred
as the first-line treatment of reflux-related erosive esophagitis or, if they are not available or contraindicated, antagonists of histamine-2 receptors. Exclusion of alternative causes of symptoms in infants and children not responding to 4 – 8 weeks of optimal medical therapy is recommended. Baclofen should be considered prior to surgery in children in whom other pharmacological treatments have failed. Antireflux surgery, including fundoplication, should be considered in children with life threatening complications of GERD after failure of optimal medical treatment, refractory symptoms and need for chronic pharmacotherapy.