Gastric emptying in children with cerebral palsy and gastroesophageal reflux.

Gastric emptying time is considered a factor in the increased frequency of gastroesophageal reflux in children with cerebral palsy. It is unknown if emptying time influences the severity of reflux. In this study, 76 cerebral palsy patients with reflux indicative symptoms were investigated by 24-hour pH monitoring. Reflux complications were also studied. Emptying time in children with reflux was investigated using gastric scintigraphy. Twenty-eight children with resistant asthma scanned for pulmonary aspiration were studied as control subjects for emptying time. Reflux was diagnosed in 51.3%; it was severe in 53.8%, moderate in 38.5%, and mild in 7.7%. Occurrence of reflux did not differ significantly among different forms of cerebral palsy or between males and females. The most frequent complications in reflux-positive patients were iron deficiency (51.3%), anemia (41.0%), malnutrition (33.3%), recurrent upper respiratory tract infections (28.2%), and low body weight (28.2%). Patients without reflux had less frequent complications. Gastric emptying time measured by gastric scintigraphy in 28 patients with reflux manifested no difference in comparison to the control group (P > 0.05). No relationship was found between emptying time and reflux severity (P > 0.05). In conclusion, reflux (moderate or severe) is common in children with cerebral palsy, frequently leading to complications but no delayed emptying time. The patients described in this report had no delayed emptying time. There was also no relationship between emptying time and severity of reflux.