Correlation of abdominal ultrasonographic findings with continuous 24-hour PH monitoring oesophageal studies in children with gasrtroesphageal reflux disease [GORD]

Gastro oesophageal reflux [GOR] is a common, benign, usually self limiting condition but gastro oesophageal reflux disease [GORD] is less common and can lead to oesophagitis, pulmonary aspiration and acute life threatening events. The assessment of GOR normally requires invasive techniques. Our objective was to assess the role of gastro oesophageal ultrasound [US] as a screening tool for children with significant GOR compared with 24 hour pH studies. US and pH monitoring was compared retrospectively in 31 symptomatic children who underwent both investigations. Average age of 3.7 years [range 2 months to 11 years]. 16 US was found to be a useful technique with 93% sensitivity, 53% specificity, a low false negative rate of 3% and a negative predictive value of 88% for the detection of significant GOR compared with pH probe studies. Abdominal ultrasound can be a useful non-invasive screening method for the detection of significant GOR allowing more invasive pH probe, studies to be reserved for selected patients