PO-0133Gastroesophageal Reflux In Infants And Osteophatic Manipolative Treatment: An Alternative Therapy?

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood 2014-10, Vol.99 (Suppl 2), p.A291-A291
• Main Authors: Pacchiarotti, C, Maioli, F, Campisano, M, Addonisio, G, Crescenzi, A, Brasili, L, Mastrogiorgio, G, Macari, A, Villa, M P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0003-9888
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-307384.797

Background and aimsSeveral study have been reported that modifying vagus nerve control of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation can induce improvement of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of osteophatic treatment (OMT) in infants with GERD.MethodsWe enrolled 40 infants (M/F:24/16), age ranged 1-18 months (median 4 month) attending for persistent reflux. Each patient performed I-GERQ-R questionnaire and ultrasonography of the gastro-esophageal junction before and after treatment. The ultrasound score was 0 to 3 on the basis of severity of reflux (number of reflux episodes in 10 min). Moreover each patient did an osteophatic treatment consisting in an extensive physical examination, to evaluate TART parameters (T = tissue texture changes; A = asimmetry; R = restriction of motion; T = tenderness). Then, a specific therapeutic intervention was chosen, treating only the parts of the body presenting greater TART modifications.ResultsAll the somatic dysfunctions observed before OMT (at the scale 32/40 patients, the condyles 36/40 patients, the occipito-mastoid suture 36/40 patients; the stomach 22/40 patients, the small epiploon 30/40 patients) disappeared after treatment. The average score of I GERQ-R questionnaire before and after treatment was 22.7 plus or minus 4.7 and 17.2 plus or minus 4.5 respectively (p < 0.05). In 29 (72.5%) patients we found an improvement of ultrasound parameters (mean score before and after treatment was 1.7 plus or minus 0.8 and 0.7 plus or minus 0.7 respectively; p < 0.05).ConclusionOMT could be considered as an alternative treatment in infants with gastroesophageal reflux. Further data are needed to confirm our hyphothesis.