Clinical characteristics and follow-up study of 47 neonates with gastroesophageal reflux / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To study the clinical characteristics of the newborns with gastroesophageal reflux (GER),and to compare the complications and outcomes of different degrees of reflux retrospectively. Methods Neo-nates diagnosed with GER by using upper gastrointestinal series admitted to neonatal ward of Peking University First Hospital from August 2008 to September 2017 were enrolled for the study. Data of demographic characteristics,radio-graphic imaging findings,treatment methods and efficacy of therapy of patients were collected. Infants enrolled in this study were followed up for 1 year after being discharged from hospital. The lasting time of reflux symptoms with different degrees of reflux were compared. Results A total of 47 cases of GER were enrolled,of whom 23 cases were male,and 24 cases were female. There were 42 term infants and 5 preterm infants. Their gestational age ranged from 34 to 41 weeks[(38. 9 ± 1. 6)weeks],and birth weight was from 1990 g to 4430 g[(3157. 3 ± 574. 0)g]. The median onset age was 2 days,ranged from 1 to 21 days. The clinical manifestations were recurrent vomiting (40 / 47 cases,85. 1％) and paroxysmal cyanosis (7 / 47 cases,14. 9％). Complications presented as poor weight gain (42 / 47 cases,89. 4％), aspiration pneumonia (24 / 47 cases,51. 1％)and apnea (1 / 47 cases,2. 1％). The findings of upper gastrointestinal imaging assigned the patients into 2 groups,13 cases of mild reflux group and 34 cases of severe reflux group. After po-sitional therapy together with domperidone,44 patients showed improvement of symptoms. After their discharge,the lasting time of reflux symptoms in the mild reflux group was significantly shorter than in the severe group [4 weeks(2 -8 weeks)vs. 8 weeks (2 - 40 weeks)],and the difference was significant(Z = - 2. 336,P < 0. 05). Conclusions Neonates with GER mainly manifest recurrent vomiting,and most of them have a favorable prognosis. The reflux symp-toms last for less time in the mild reflux infants than in the severe patients.

The Korean guideline for gastric cancer screening

Despite improvements in treatment modalities, gastric cancer is the second cause of mortality among Korean men and third among females in Korea. Korea implemented a gastric cancer screening program for the general population in 1999. However, the effectiveness and harms of gastric cancer screening using gastric endoscopy and upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series have not been fully evaluated. In an effort to evaluate the screening program, the Korean multidisciplinary expert committee for developing a gastric cancer screening guideline systematically reviewed the evidence regarding the benefits and harms of gastric cancer screening, and developed an evidence-based clinical guideline. There is 'low' level evidence that gastric cancer screening using gastric endoscopy or UGI series can reduce gastric cancer mortality for asymptomatic adults aged between 40 to 74 years. The benefits of gastric cancer screening using gastric endoscopy are substantially higher than its harms, while the benefits of screening with UGI series are moderately higher. We recommend that asymptomatic adults from 40 to 75 years of age undergo biannual gastric cancer screening using gastric endoscopy (recommendation B). Gastric cancer screening using UGI series in asymptomatic adults aged between 40 to 74 years may be recommended based on clinicians' judgment regarding the patient's risk and the patient's preference (recommendation C). There is insufficient evidence to assess the benefits and harms of gastric cancer screening for adults aged between 75 to 84 years (recommendation I). We recommend against gastric cancer screening for adults older than 85 years (recommendation D).

Quality management of medical imaging for public health screening

The purpose of health screening is to reduce disease-related mortality and related medical costs through the early detection and treatment of specific diseases. However, if the quality of public health screening is poor, it not only fails to achieve the purpose of screening, but may also increase the demand for expensive individual opportunistic health examinations. To prevent these adverse situations, the Basic Act for Health Screening was established in 2010, and quality assessment of medical institutions for cancer screening has been performed from 2008. Radiologists have an integral role in radiologic examinations for screening; thus the Korean Society for Radiology has made a substantial effort to participate in quality control and improvement of the imaging quality for public health screening.

Screening for Gastric Cancer: The Usefulness of Endoscopy

Gastric cancer screening is common in countries with high prevalence rates of gastric cancer. However, data supporting the effectiveness of gastric cancer screening are lacking. Thus, the aim of this review was to examine the current evidence on gastric cancer screening. Herein, we reviewed radiographic and endoscopic tests as methods of gastric cancer screening. Previous cohort studies and case-control studies have demonstrated reduced gastric cancer mortality in study populations that had undergone gastric cancer screening with radiographic tests. Recently, a case-control study in Japan reported a 30% reduction in gastric cancer mortality when screening was undertaken via endoscopy. Also, endoscopic screening for gastric cancer exhibited higher sensitivity and specificity than radiographic screening. Moreover, most cost-effectiveness analyses on the best strategy for detecting early gastric cancer have generally concluded that endoscopy is more cost-effective than radiographic testing. Although data on the impact of endoscopy screening programs on gastric cancer mortality are limited, recent study results suggest that gastric cancer screening by endoscopy in average-risk populations performs better than radiography screening. Further evaluation of the impact of these screening methods should take into account cost and any associated reduction in gastric cancer mortality.

Sensibilidade da seriografia do esôfago, estômago e duodeno para o diagnóstico de doença do refluxo gastroesofágico em recém-nascidos prematuros / Sensitivity of upper gastrointestinal series in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux in premature infants

OBJETIVO: Determinar a sensibilidade da seriografia do esôfago, estômago e duodeno (SEED) para o diagnóstico da doença do refluxo gastroesofágico (DRGE) em recém-nascidos prematuros, tendo como padrão ouro a monitoração prolongada do pH esofágico distal, e descrever a presença de anormalidades anatômicas do tubo digestivo. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos no estudo 41 recém-nascidos, com média de 1.243,9 g, apresentando sinais/sintomas de DRGE e resultados alterados na monitoração do pH (índice de refluxo > 10 por cento). A SEED foi realizada logo que as condições clínicas dos recém-nascidos foram estáveis para a realização dos exames radiológicos. RESULTADOS: A monitoração prolongada do pH e a SEED foram realizadas com 49,8 e 66,8 dias de vida, respectivamente. A sensibilidade da seriografia foi de 56,1 por cento (IC 95 por cento: 39,9-71,2 por cento). Refluxo significativo foi observado em 41,4 por cento dos casos, refluxo médio em 44,8 por cento e refluxo pequeno em 13,8 por cento. A SEED identificou apenas um caso de hérnia de hiato. CONCLUSÃO: A SEED apresentou baixa sensibilidade para a DRGE em prematuros e não se associou com a gravidade do refluxo, na comparação com a monitoração do pH, sendo, entretanto, útil no diagnóstico de alteração anatômica.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the sensitivity of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series, adopting the 24-h esophageal pH monitoring as the gold standard in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in preterm newborns, besides describing the presence of anatomical abnormalities in the digestive tube. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study included 41 neonates with average birth weight of 1,243.9 g, presenting signs/symptoms of GERD and abnormal 24-h esophageal pH monitoring (reflux index > 10 percent). The UGI series was performed as soon as the infants' clinical conditions were considered sufficiently stable. RESULTS: The 24-h pH monitoring and UGI series were performed respectively at 49.8 and 66.8 days of life. The UGI series sensitivity was of 56.1 percent (CI 95 percent: 39.9-71.2 percent). The reflux index was significant in 41.4 percent, moderate in 44.8 percent, and mild in 13.8 percent of the cases. Only one case of hiatus hernia was identified by UGI series. CONCLUSION: Upper gastrointestinal series has demonstrated low sensitivity in the diagnosis of GERD in preterm newborns and was not associated with the reflux severity as compared with pH monitoring. However, it is useful in the detection of anatomical abnormalities in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Análise radiológica das alterações gastrintestinais após cirurgia de Fobi-Capella / Radiological evaluation of postoperative gastrointestinal alterations in patients submitted to Fobi-Capella surgery

OBJETIVO: Estudar os achados radiológicos encontrados na seriografia digestiva alta no pós-operatório tardio de cirurgia de Fobi-Capella. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo radiológico de 41 pacientes realizado seis a nove meses após a cirurgia de Fobi-Capella. RESULTADOS: As alterações encontradas foram hérnia hiatal (17 por cento), refluxo gastroesofágico (19,5 por cento) e deslizamento do anel (4,8 por cento). Os achados menos freqüentes foram fístula enterocutânea (2,4 por cento), estenose da anastomose gastrojejunal (2,4 por cento), bezoar (2,4 por cento) e não-visualização do anel em decorrência da sua retirada por intolerância (2,4 por cento). As alterações anatômicas da cirurgia foram claramente demonstradas. CONCLUSÃO: O estudo foi capaz de demonstrar as alterações anatômicas e as complicações da cirurgia de Fobi-Capella.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed at evaluating radiological findings of delayed postoperative upper gastrointestinal series in patients submitted to Fobi-Capella surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiological studies of 41 patients, six to nine months following the surgery. RESULTS: The following pathological alterations have been found: hiatal hernia (17 percent), gastroesophageal reflux disease (19.5 percent) and sliding of the silastic ring (4.8 percent). Least frequent findings have been the following: enterocutaneous fistula (2.4 percent), stenosis of the gastric pouch outlet (2.4 percent), bezoar (2.4 percent), and non-visualization of the silastic ring caused by its removal due to patient intolerance (2.4 percent). Anatomical alterations resulting from the surgery have been clearly demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The present study could demonstrate anatomical alterations and complications resulting from Fobi-Capella surgery.