POSTPRANDIAL TACHYGASTRIA IS FREQUENT IN INFANTS WITH GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX

Cutaneous electrogastrography (EGG) enables non-invasive recording of gastric electrical activity (GEA). Controversial EGG and ultrasonograp hic (US) results have been described in infants suffering from gastroe sophageal reflux (GER). It was the aim of this study to investigate CE A using transcutaneous EGG in a group of infants free of symptoms indi cative of GER and a group with GER (mean age 10 months, (range 3-36 mo nths)) and to investigate gastric emptying in both groups using US. We also investigated possible correlations between EGG and US parameters of the gastric emptying curve. The EGG was recorded over a period of at least 120 min (60 min preprandial to 60 min postprandial). US measu rements were made just after completion of the meal and then every 30 min up to 180 min. In infants with GER significantly more tachygastria occured in the postprandial period when compared to healthy infants, in whom normogastria was predominantly observed (P < 0.05). The sonogr aphically-measured gastric emptying curve could be defined in all infa nts using an exponential function. No significant differences between the groups were noted; there was no significant correlation between EG G parameters and the De Meester score or parameters of the sonographic ally-measured gastric emptying curve. From the results of this study, transcutaneous EGG recorded within the postprandial period can be of p otential clinical value for non-invasive GER screening in infants. How ever, the EGG cannot be utilized to investigate gastric emptying in in fants.