Gastric Accommodation as a Factor Influencing the Number of Reflux Episodes in Children and Adolescents

Gastroesophageal reflux events happen during relaxations of lower esophageal sphincter not related to swallowing, called transient. These transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (tLESR) are generally triggered by gastric distension and its physiological purpose is to vent the stomach. The gastric accommodation is a physiological process in which the gastric fundus actively relaxes during a meal in order to accommodate it.

This study is driven by the hypothesis that impairment of the gastric accommodation may facilitate triggering tLESR and, therefore, reflux events. We aim to evaluate the relation between gastric fundic relaxation and the number of gastroesophageal reflux events in children. We also aim to evaluate if there is a relation between the gastric emptying and the number of reflux episodes.