Acid Reflux Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Acid Reflux, including details on diet, gerd (gastro-esophageal reflux disease), treatment, symptoms.

A preliminary report on the efficacy of the Multicare AR-Bed in 3-week-3-month-old infants on regurgitation, associated symptoms and acid reflux.

Vandenplas Y, De Schepper J, Verheyden S, Devreker T, Franckx J, Peelman M, Denayer E, Hauser B

Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel Kinderen, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. yvan.vandenplas@uzbrussel.be

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the efficacy of a 40 degrees supine body position on infant regurgitation, reflux-associated symptoms and acid reflux. INTERVENTION: Thirty of 52 consecutive infants presenting with frequent regurgitation and reflux-associated symptoms occurring mainly during feeding were evaluated in the Multicare AR-Bed (Peos, Ninove, Belgium). The Infant-Gastroesophageal Reflux Questionnaire-Revised (I-GERQ-R) and an oesophageal pH monitoring were performed at inclusion and after 1 week. RESULTS: Eight out of 30 (27%) infants did not tolerate the 40 degrees positioning, and had to be taken out of the study within the first 2 days. However, in 22/30 (73%) infants the I-GERQ-R and acid reflux decreased significantly with the Multicare AR-Bed. The mean duration of use of the Multicare AR-Bed was 3.2 months. CONCLUSION: The results of this pilot study suggest that a specially made bed that nurses the infant at 40 degrees supine body position reduces regurgitation, acid reflux and reflux-associated symptoms. However, the intervention was open, the sample size small and the withdrawal rate was substantial. Larger trials are needed.

Published 30 December 2009 in Arch Dis Child, 95(1): 26-30.
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Articles on Acid Reflux published 29 December 2009:

The association between cholecystectomy and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: a prospective controlled study.   Ann Surg, 251(1): 40-5.

OBJECTIVE: A large controlled prospective observational study to compare pre- and postsurgery changes in reflux symptoms between cholecystectomy and hernia repair surgery patients. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Six studies have suggested that gastroesophageal reflux worsens after cholecystectomy. However, all these studies had design limitations. METHODS: We recruited 302 patients scheduled to undergo elective cholecystectomy (study group) or hernia repair (controls) at 2 hospitals. Both groups ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Acid Reflux published 24 December 2009:

Eosinophilic esophagitis in patients with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease.   Dig Dis Sci, 55(1): 28-31.

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic esophagitis is among the causes of refractory reflux disease. Biopsy of esophagus is the gold standard for diagnosis. In this study we determined the frequency of eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) in refractory reflux cases referred to Motility Department of Shahid Beheshti Research Center of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Tehran, Iran. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 68 cases with refractory reflux disease underwent endoscopy and had biopsies taken. Specimens ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Acid Reflux published 16 December 2009:

Effect of cricoid force on airway calibre in children: a bronchoscopic assessment.   Br J Anaesth, 104(1): 71-4.

BACKGROUND: Cricoid pressure or to be more exact cricoid force (CF) can cause airway obstruction and subsequent difficulty with airway management during an emergency induction. METHODS: We studied 30 children with an age range of 3 months to 15 yr who presented for routine bronchoscopy or other surgical procedures requiring tracheal intubation. We looked at the effect of CF on the calibre of the subglottic airway and objectively measured the force which caused 50% or greater ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and erosive reflux disease in children. METHODS: A total of 206 children [mean age 8.4 +/- 4.9 (0.16-18) years] who underwent diagnostic upper endoscopy were tested for H. pylori infection between 2002 and 2005 and the relationship between H. pylori infection and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease was investigated retrospectively. Endoscopic and histopathological findings were examined ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Acid Reflux published 7 December 2009:

Cost-effectiveness of endoscopic screening followed by surveillance for Barrett's esophagus: a review.   Gastroenterology, 137(6): 1869-76.

Screening interventions for Barrett's esophagus (BE) are appealing, but there is little supporting evidence. We reviewed health economics studies about BE endoscopic screening followed by, as required, endoscopic surveillance ("screening and surveillance" hereafter) to help inform the design and conduct of future research. Health economics studies about BE screening and surveillance were identified using electronic database searches and personal contact with authors of identified ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Acid Reflux published 6 October 2009:

Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in a Danish population: a prospective follow-up analysis of symptoms, quality of life, and health-care use.   Am J Gastroenterol, 104(10): 2394-403.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (GERS) in the population is high; however, data on long-term follow-up and incidence of GERS in the population are sparse. This study describes the long-term natural history of GERS, the related health-care use, and quality of life in a population followed up for 5 years. METHODS: A total of 10,000 randomly selected inhabitants, 40-65 years old, received, as a part of a controlled trial of Helicobacter pylori screening and treatment ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Acid Reflux published 2 October 2009:

Outcomes of Nissen fundoplication in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and delayed gastric emptying.   Arch Surg, 144(9): 823-8.

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Articles on Acid Reflux published 29 September 2009:

Long-term safety concerns with proton pump inhibitors.   Am J Med, 122(10): 896-903.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most widely prescribed medications worldwide. Their use has resulted in dramatic improvements in treatment of peptic ulcer disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Despite an acceptable safety profile, mounting data demonstrate concerns about the long-term use of PPIs. To provide a comprehensive review regarding the concerns of long-term PPI use, a literature search was performed to identify pertinent original and review articles. Despite study ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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