BACKGROUND: Using two-dimensional (2D) ultrasonography, we previously found indications of impaired adaptive relaxation of the proximal stomach in children with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP). In the present study, we applied a new three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonographic method to investigate intragastric volumes and distribution of a liquid meal in another group of children with RAP. METHODS: Twenty patients with RAP (age 10-15 years) and 20 healthy subjects (age 11-15 years) underwent ultrasonographic measurements of the stomach. A position sensor was used based on magnetic scanhead tracking for acquisition of 3D images after a liquid meal. The children scored abdominal symptoms before and after the meal. RESULTS: Expressed as a fraction of ingested volume, the patients had a smaller volume of the proximal stomach and a larger antral volume at 2 min postprandially compared to healthy subjects (P = 0.03 and P = 0.001, respectively). The patients also showed a decreased proximal to distal gastric volume ratio at 2 min postprandially (P = 0.001). Patients experienced more pain in response to the meal than healthy subjects (P = 0.04), but there was no correlation between pain and proximal or distal gastric volumes. CONCLUSIONS: RAP in children may be associated with an early intragastric maldistribution of a meal.
BACKGROUND: Using two-dimensional (2D) ultrasonography, we previously found indications of impaired adaptive relaxation of the proximal stomach in children with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP). In the present study, we applied a new three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonographic method to investigate intragastric volumes and distribution of a liquid meal in another group of children with RAP. METHODS: Twenty patients with RAP (age 10-15 years) and 20 healthy subjects (age 11-15 years) underwent ultrasonographic measurements of the stomach. A position sensor was used based on magnetic scanhead tracking for acquisition of 3D images after a liquid meal. The children scored abdominal symptoms before and after the meal. RESULTS: Expressed as a fraction of ingested volume, the patients had a smaller volume of the proximal stomach and a larger antral volume at 2 min postprandially compared to healthy subjects (P = 0.03 and P = 0.001, respectively). The patients also showed a decreased proximal to distal gastric volume ratio at 2 min postprandially (P = 0.001). Patients experienced more pain in response to the meal than healthy subjects (P = 0.04), but there was no correlation between pain and proximal or distal gastric volumes. CONCLUSIONS: RAP in children may be associated with an early intragastric maldistribution of a meal.
Authors: John M Rosen; Jose T Cocjin; Jennifer V Schurman; Jennifer M Colombo; Craig A Friesen Journal: World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther Date: 2014-08-06