Upper Endoscopic Findings in Children with Recurrent Abdominal Pain: High Prevalence of Hiatus Hernia

authors:

avatar Sara Mossahebi 1 , avatar Giv Heidari-Bateni 1 , avatar Fatemeh Farahmand 2 , avatar Ahmad Khodadad 3 , avatar Farzaneh Motamed 3 , avatar Mehri Najafi 3 , avatar Sayna Norouzi 4 , *

Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran
Department of Pediatrics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran & Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran & Growth and Development Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Department of Pediatrics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran & Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran
Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran, Iran
Iranian Journal of Pediatrics: Vol.22, issue 3; 309-313
published online: September 30, 2012
article type: Research Article
received: April 25, 2012
accepted: February 16, 2012

how to cite: Mossahebi S, Heidari-Bateni G, Farahmand F, Khodadad A, Motamed F, et al. Upper Endoscopic Findings in Children with Recurrent Abdominal Pain: High Prevalence of Hiatus Hernia. Iran J Pediatr. 2012;22(3): 309-313. 

Abstract

Objective: Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) by itself is one of the common reasons in child-aged patients to refer to a clinician. Some of these patients are presented with more serious features, so-called the “red flag”. The most important issue in management of RAP is to distinguish the type of it, whether it is functional or organic. In this study we aimed to assess the redundancy of red-flagged RAP with findings of esophago-gastro-deudonoscopy.
Methods: In a 2 year prospective study 150 consecutive children with RAP who showed red flags underwent esophago-gastro-deudonoscopy. The prevalence of each finding was recorded. Overall positive predictive value of predicting an endoscopic finding while having a red-flag was calculated.  
Findings: Among all the patients, 126 cases showed at least a positive finding in their endoscopy that corresponded to the positive predictive value of 84% for predicting the presence of an endoscopic finding according to red flags. Interestingly, 20% of patients showed hiatus hernia when surveyed.
Conclusion: Comprehensive physical examination is needed to avoid performing esophago-gastro-deudonoscopy without indication in patients with recurrent abdominal pain.
 

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