Santucci NR, Corsiglia J, EI-Chammas K, Shumeiko O, Liu C, Kaul A. Liquid and
solid gastric emptying and correlation with clinical characteristics in pediatric patients with dyspepsia.
Neurogastroenterol Motil 2024;
36:e14701. [PMID:
37926966 PMCID:
PMC10843701 DOI:
10.1111/nmo.14701]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
There is limited data on gastric emptying in dyspeptic children. We aimed to determine solid and liquid emptying rates in dyspeptic children and correlate with clinical characteristics.
METHODS
Charts of dyspeptic children undergoing 4-hour dual-phase gastric scintigraphy were reviewed for demographics, symptoms, and comorbidities.
KEY RESULTS
In 1078 dyspeptic patients (65% females, median age 13 years) vomiting (55%), nausea (53%), and abdominal pain (52%) were the most common symptoms. The most common comorbidities were mental health (32%), neurologic (27%), and hypermobility spectrum disorders (20%). Solid and liquid emptying rates were aligned in 61.23%. Delayed solid with normal liquid emptying were noted in 2.5%, compared to delayed liquid with normal solid emptying in 26.16%. Abdominal pain had a trend for association with delayed or normal solid emptying (p = 0.06). Nausea was mostly reported with normal solid emptying (p < 0.0001) and underreported in patients <12 years with vomiting (29%). Abnormal solid emptying (rapid and delayed) was noted more frequently in children with mental health disorders (p = 0.027). Rapid liquid emptying was more common in children with genetic disorders (p = 0.032).
CONCLUSION AND INFERENCES
Over half of children with dyspepsia had delayed liquid gastric emptying, and one quarter had delayed liquid with normal solid emptying. Dual-phase gastric emptying studies may help target therapy in dyspeptic children. Nausea is not a reliable symptom for dyspepsia in younger children. Given the significant association of abnormal gastric emptying in children with mental health disorders, we recommend screening and treating children with dyspepsia.
Collapse