A diagnostic approach to vomiting in severely retarded patients

Clinical characteristics of children with severe neurologic impairment: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to extrapolate the clinical features of children with severe neurologic impairment (SNI) based on the functional characteristics and comorbidities described in published studies.

METHODS

Four databases were searched. We included studies that describe clinical features of a group of children with SNI (≥20 subjects <19 years of age with >1 neurologic diagnosis and severe functional limitation) using data from caregivers, medical charts, or prospective collection. Studies that were not written in English were excluded. We extracted data about functional characteristics, comorbidities, and study topics.

RESULTS

We included 102 studies, spanning 5 continents over 43 years, using 41 distinct terms for SNI. The terms SNI and neurologic impairment (NI) were used in 59 studies (58%). Most studies (n = 81, 79%) described ≥3 types of functional characteristics, such as technology assistance and motor impairment. Studies noted 59 comorbidities and surgeries across 10 categories. The most common comorbidities were related to feeding, nutrition, and the gastrointestinal system, which were described in 79 studies (77%). Most comorbidities (76%) were noted in <10 studies. Studies investigated seven clinical topics, with "Gastrointestinal reflux and feeding tubes" as the most common research focus (n = 57, 56%). The next most common topic, "Aspiration and respiratory issues," included 13 studies (13%). Most studies (n = 54, 53%) were retrospective cohorts or case series; there were no clinical trials.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the breadth of described comorbidities, studies focused on a narrow set of clinical topics. Further research is required to understand the prevalence, clinical impact, and interaction of the multiple comorbidities that are common in children with SNI.

Recurrent pneumonia caused by diffuse oesophageal spasm

A 14-month-old severely retarded girl with a history of regurgitation, aspiration, and recurrent pneumonia was found to suffer from diffuse oesophageal spasm. This diagnosis was made by oesophageal cineradiography. This case suggests that diffuse oesophageal spasm is an oesophageal motility disorder that causes respiratory disease in the retarded child.

Protective antireflux operation with feeding gastrostomy. Experience with children

Regurgitation and aspiration of feedings is a significant problem in children with impaired oral intake fed via gastrostomy. Using extended (18-24 hour) esophageal pH monitoring to assess gastroesophageal reflux (GER), we studied prospectively 32 children (aged 2 to 16 years) referred for feeding gastrostomy. Twenty-five patients had repeat esophageal pH monitoring after surgery. Prior to surgery, GER was documented in 23 (72%) of the 32 children. Twenty-two of the 23 children with GER before surgery had an antireflux operation performed in conjunction with the feeding gastrostomy. Gastroesophageal reflux was clinically significant in the single failed antireflux operation and in the child with GER before surgery who only had a gastrostomy performed. All nine patients without GER only had gastrostomy performed. Six of these developed GER by pH monitoring after surgery, with significant vomiting in four. Of our 11 patients remaining at risk for GER after surgery, seven (64%) had persistent vomiting with gastrostomy feedings. Thus, 91% (29 of 32) of the children were potentially at risk for GER if a gastrostomy only was performed. We believe these data support the need for a "protective" antireflux operation in children referred for feeding gastrostomy.