Abstract
It has been reported that patients with severe idiopathic constipation may be affected by diffuse abnormalities of the myenteric plexus(Gastroenterology 1985;88:26-31). HD may affect any part of the colon but little attention has been given to a possible dysfunction of gastrointestinal tract other than the colon. The aim of our study was to evaluate EM in unoperated children with HD, without fecal impaction for continuous treatment with daily enemas. Esophageal manometry was performed in 12 children(mean age:2.4 years)with HD, diagnosed by barium enema, rectal manometry and deep rectal biopsy. Manometric tracings, blindy read, were compared with those of 10 age-matched children with emesis without proven gastrointestinal motility disorders. Lower Esophageal Sphincter(LES) pressure, LES relaxation with swallows and duration of esophageal waves did not differ between HD and control children. Amplitude of esophageal waves(mm Hg) was significantly higher in HD children than in controls(73.5±15.9, mean±SD; 50.7±20.7, respectively, p<0.05). Simultaneous and double peaked esophageal waves were significantly more frequent in HD children than in controls(56.9%±19.8; 7.8%±5.9; p<0.001). This study shows that EM abnormalities are a frequent occurrence in HD children and suggests that in these patients motor dysfunction is not limited to the colon as it may affect other gastrointestinal tracts.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Staiano, A., Cucchiara, S., Corazziari, E. et al. ESOPHAGEAL MOTILITY (EM) IN CHILDREN WITH HIRSCHSPRUNG'S DISEASE (HD). Pediatr Res 26, 269 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198909000-00036
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198909000-00036