Peter L. Lu

Cow's-milk allergy is a risk factor for the development of FGIDs in children.

Objectives: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common in children. Their pathogenesis remains unknown and is most likely multifactorial. We hypothesized that noninfectious causes of inflammation affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract early in life, such as cows-milk allergy (CMA), can predispose to the development of FGIDs later in childhood. Patients and Methods: Case-control study. Subjects were patients between 4 and 18 years diagnosed with CMA in the first year of life at Childrens Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL, between January 2000 and June 2009. Diagnosis of CMA was based on history and clinical findings. Siblings 4 to 18 years of age without a history of CMA were selected as controls. Cases completed the parental form of the Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rome III version questionnaire to assess for GI symptoms. Results: Fifty-two subjects (mean age 8.1 ± 4.48 years, 62% girls) and 53 controls (mean age 9.7 ± 4.20 years, 55% girls) participated in the study. Twenty-three of 52 subjects (44.2%) reported GI symptoms that included abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea compared with 11 of 53 controls (20.75%) (odds ratio 3.03, P = 0.01). Abdominal pain was significantly more common in cases (16/52, 30.8%) versus controls (5/53, 9.43%) (odds ratio 4.27 [1.43–12.7]) (χ2 = 7.47, P = 0.01). Abnormal stool habits were more common in cases (15/52, 28.8%) versus controls (7/53, 13.2%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Ten of 52 subjects (19.2%) met the Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rome III version criteria for diagnosis of an FGID (7 irritable bowel syndrome, 2 functional dyspepsia, 1 functional abdominal pain), whereas none in the control group did. Conclusions: CMA constitutes a risk factor for the development of FGIDs in children.

The prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders in children in Panama: a school-based study

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common in children, but the epidemiology of FGIDs is incompletely understood. Our aim was to perform a population‐based study using Rome III criteria to describe the prevalence of FGIDs in children in Panama.

Improvement of quality of life and symptoms after gastric electrical stimulation in children with functional dyspepsia

Our objective is to evaluate the effect of gastric electrical stimulation (GES) on symptoms and quality of life for pediatric patients with functional dyspepsia (FD).

Sacral nerve stimulation allows for decreased antegrade continence enema use in children with severe constipation

BACKGROUND Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) can be beneficial for children with constipation, but no studies have focused on children with constipation severe enough to require antegrade continence enemas (ACEs). Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of SNS in children with constipation treated with ACE. METHODS Using a prospective patient registry, we identified patients <21years old who were receiving ACE prior to SNS placement. We compared ACE/laxative usage, PedsQL Gastrointestinal Symptom Scale (GSS), Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (FIQL), Fecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI), and Vancouver Dysfunctional Elimination Syndrome Score (DES) at baseline and progressive follow-up time intervals. RESULTS Twenty-two patients (55% male, median 12years) were included. Median ACE frequency decreased from 7 per week at baseline to 1 per week at 12months (p<0.0001). Ten children (45%) had their cecostomy/appendicostomy closed. Laxative use, GSS, FIQL, and DES did not change. FISI improved over the first 12months with statistical significance reached only at 6months (p=0.02). Six (27%) children experienced complications after SNS that required further surgery. CONCLUSIONS In children with severe constipation dependent on ACE, SNS led to a steady decrease in ACE usage with nearly half of patients receiving cecostomy/appendicostomy closure within 2years. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV.

Surgical decision-making in the management of children with intractable functional constipation: What are we doing and are we doing it right?

BACKGROUND Children with intractable functional constipation (FC) may eventually require surgery, often guided by motility testing. However, there are no evidence-based guidelines for the surgical management of intractable FC in children. AIM To assess the diagnostic and surgical approach of pediatric surgeons and pediatric gastroenterologists towards children with intractable FC. METHODS A survey was administered to physicians attending an international conference held simultaneously in Columbus (Ohio, USA) and Nijmegen (the Netherlands). The survey included 4 questions based on cases with anorectal and colonic manometry results. RESULTS 74 physicians completed the questionnaire. Anorectal manometry was used by 70%; 52% of them would consider anal sphincter botulinum toxin injections for anal achalasia and 21% would use this to treat dyssynergia. Colonic manometry was used by 38%; 57% of them reported to use this to guide surgical decision-making. The surgical approach varied considerably among responders answering the case questions based on motility test results; the most commonly chosen treatments were antegrade continence enemas and anal botulinum injections. CONCLUSION Surgical decision-making for children with intractable FC differs among physicians. There is a need for clinical guidelines regarding the role of anorectal and colonic manometry in surgical decision-making in children with intractable FC.

Gender, Age, and Prevalence of Pediatric Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Constipation in Colombia: A Population-Based Study.

Objectives: Our objective was to evaluate the role of sex and age in the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional constipation (FC) in Colombian children. We hypothesized that the prevalence of IBS and FC would be higher in female adolescents than in younger female children, with no corresponding difference in boys. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of Colombian children. Subjects completed the Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms—Rome III. Subjects were divided into child and adolescent age groups using 2 different cutoffs. Cutoffs were established at 12 and 13 years (CH-1 = 8–12 years, AD-1 = 13–18 years, CH-2 = 8–13 years, AD-2 = 14–18 years). Results: A total of 3891 subjects (47.0% F, mean age 12.0 years) participated. One hundred eighty-seven (4.8%) met criteria for IBS. There was no difference in sex composition between CH-1/AD-1 (56.0%, 43.5% F) and CH-2/AD-2 (53.4%, 46.8% F). Prevalence of IBS among girls was higher in CH-1 than that in AD-1 (6.4%, 3.7%, P < 0.05) and overall prevalence was higher in CH-1 than in AD-1 (5.4%, 4.0%, P < 0.05). Four hundred ninety-four (12.7%) children met criteria for FC. There was no difference in sex composition between CH-1/AD-1 (47.6%, 48.7% F) and CH-2/AD-2 (47.7%, 49.0% F). Prevalence of FC among girls was higher in CH-1/CH-2 (14.6%, 14.1%) than in AD-1/AD-2 (10.4%, P < 0.01; 9.9%, P < 0.05). Prevalence of FC overall was higher in CH-1/CH-2 (14.5%, 14.0%) than in AD-1/AD-2 (10.0%, P < 0.0001; 9.3%, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: We did not find a significant female predominance among Colombian children with IBS or FC. Contrary to our hypothesis, IBS and FC prevalence was generally higher in younger children compared with adolescents regardless of sex.

The rising cost of hospital care for children with gastroparesis: 2004–2013

The cost of hospital care for adults with gastroparesis (GP) is increasing. Our objective was to evaluate the cost of hospital care for children with GP.

Sacral nerve stimulation for constipation and fecal incontinence in children: Long-term outcomes, patient benefit, and parent satisfaction

To evaluate the long‐term efficacy of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) in children with constipation and describe patient benefit and parent satisfaction.

Factors Predicting Complications After Sacral Neuromodulation in Children

OBJECTIVE To identify if any preoperative variables are associated with postoperative complications after pediatric sacral neuromodulation (SNM). MATERIALS AND METHODS A review of all patients undergoing SNM with an implantable pulse generator at our institution was performed. Postoperative infection, lead migration, lead breakage, and need for reoperation were recorded in a prospective database. We collected demographic information and indication for the procedure. We defined indication for procedure as either primarily bowel or primarily bladder symptoms. Multivariate analysis was used to determine any associations between preoperative factors and postoperative complications. RESULTS Sixty-three children (34 females, 29 males) underwent SNM from 2012 to 2015. Mean age was 11.5 years, and body mass index (BMI) was 51st percentile for age. SNM was placed for primarily bowel symptoms in 49% and for primarily bladder symptoms in 51%. Follow-up was 1.9 years (0.19-4.3). Reoperation was required in 25%, with mean time to reoperation of 10.9 months (0.9-31.5). Lead migration occurred in 17.4%, and wound infection in 8%. There were no significant associations between patient age, gender, or BMI, and need for reoperation, wound infection, or lead migration. Low BMI had no increased risk of lead complications (P = .115). There was a significant increase in lead migration in the children who underwent SNM for primarily bladder symptoms (P = .0034). CONCLUSION There is no association between age, gender, or BMI and postoperative complications in this large cohort of pediatric SNM. Children with primarily bladder symptoms may have higher rate of lead complications for unclear reasons.

Surgical management of functional constipation: An intermediate report of a new approach using a laparoscopic sigmoid resection combined with malone appendicostomy

INTRODUCTION We previously reported our surgical technique for functional constipation for patients who have failed medical management using a novel collaborative approach with gastroenterology input, pre-operative contrast enema, colonic manometry, and laxative protocol combined with a laparoscopic colonic resection with Malone appendicostomy. Now we report our intermediate outcomes. METHODS Patients who failed bowel management program for functional constipation were reviewed from 3/2014-2/2017. Patients with Hirschsprung disease, anorectal malformation, tethered cord, spina bifida, Trisomy 21, cerebral palsy, mitochondrial disease, or prior colon resection were excluded. RESULTS Of 31 patients (14 females; median age 12years, follow-up 10.3months) with functional constipation and failed medical management, 26 (84%) had preoperative colonic manometry which, in addition to the contrast enema, guided laparoscopic colon resection. Ten patients (32.3%) are clean with no flushes (1 takes no laxatives, 8 are on low dose laxatives only, and 1 patient was clean on laxatives but chose to switch back to flushes). Of the 21 patients that remain on antegrade flushes, 20 (95.2%) are clean, and one patient (4.8%) continues to soil. We define clean as no soiling and no abnormal stool burden on x-ray. Laxative trials are planned for all patients on an antegrade flush regimen. CONCLUSION Our intermediate results show that laparoscopic colon resection with Malone appendicostomy allows the majority of patients to be clean on antegrade flushes, and some to be on no or minimal laxatives. TYPE OF STUDY Retrospective review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3.