Objective:To evaluate high resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) in peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for pediatric achalasia of cardia (AC).Methods:Data of 30 AC children who received POEM in Xi′an Children′s Hospital from January 2013 to September 2019 were reviewed. HREM was performed before and 6 months after POEM. Preoperative and postoperative lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP), 4-second integrated relaxation pressure (4sIRP), Eckardt scores and nutritional status were compared.Results:Children with AC aged between 4-14 years. Postoperative LESP was 5.50±1.13 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), which was significantly lower than that before operation (26.23±4.47 mmHg) with significant difference ( t=-24.623, P<0.001). Postoperative median 4sIRP was 5 mmHg, which was 20 mmHg lower than that before operation (25 mmHg) with significant difference ( Z=-4.786, P<0.001). Postoperative median Eckardt symptom score decreased significantly compared with that before (1 VS 8, Z=-4.796, P<0.001). Severe malnutrition of the AC children improved evidently to normal( Z=-5.166, P<0.001). Conclusion:POEM can significantly improve the characteristics of esophageal dynamics in children with AC, and HREM can be an important indicator for follow-up evaluation of POEM.

Objective:To explore the similarities and differences between children and adults with eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE), and to guide the diagnosis and treatment of EGE.Methods:From February 2013 to August 2018 at Xi′ an Children′ s Hospital, 18 children with EGE (child group) and from June 2008 to June 2018 at Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Air Force Medical University, 24 adults with EGE (adult group) were retrospectively selected as study subjects. The general data, clinical symptoms, laboratory examinations, imaging, endoscopy manifestations, pathological biopsy, treatment and prognosis of the two groups were analyzed. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results:The proportion of child group with allergic history was higher than that of adult group (9/18 vs. 20.8%, 5/24), the incidence of nausea and vomiting was higher than that of adult group (13/18 vs. 29.2%, 7/24), the incidence of diarrhea and weight loss were both lower than those of adult group (4/18 vs. 58.5%, 14/24; 3/18 vs. 54.2%, 13/24), and the proportion of patients with elevated peripheral blood eosinophil count was lower than that of adult group (4/18 vs. 58.3%, 14/24), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=3.938, 7.644, 5.477, 6.133 and 5.477, P=0.047, 0.006, 0.019, 0.013 and 0.029). The main endoscopic manifestations of the two groups were mucosal congestion and edema (13 cases of child group and 22 cases of adult group). Mucosal roughness (7 cases) and erosion (6 cases) were also common in child group, while mucosal erosion (18 cases, 75.0%) and ulcer (8 cases, 33.3%) were more common in adult group. There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of mucosal erosion between the two groups ( χ2=7.292, P=0.007). The positive rates of biopsy in the terminal ileum, colorectum and duodenum of child group and adult group were both high (6/6, 14/15, 9/18 and 8/10, 12/15, 6/8, respectively). The response time of glucocorticoid treatment was 4.5 d (2.0 to 27.0 d) and 3.7 d (1.0 to 14.0 d) in child group (8 cases) and adult group (13 cases), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the recurrence rate after glucocorticoid treatment between the two groups (5/8 vs. 6/13, P > 0.05). Conclusions:The clinical characteristics of children and adults with EGE are different, which may provide references for clinicians to understand, diagnose and treat EGE.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of capsule endoscopy for the diagnosis of intestinal diseases in children.Methods:Clinical data of 113 pediatric patients who received capsule endoscopy in Xi'an Children's Hospital from October 2018 to September 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The completion rate, passage time of stomach and small intestine, lesion detection rate, adverse reactions and complications of capsule endoscopy were analyzed.Results:Among 113 pediatric patients, 78 (69.03%) were male and 35 (30.97%) were female. The age was (99.8±44.7) months (9-195 months), and 31 (27.43%) were under 7 years old. The minimum weight was 9 kg and the minimum height was 70 cm. Eighty-seven pediatric patients (76.99%) swallowed capsules orally (the oral group) with the minimum age of 4 years and 3 months. Capsules were implanted in 26 pediatric patients (23.01%) under gastroscopy (the gastroscopic group), with the maximum age of 9 years and 2 months. Unexplained abdominal pain (47.79%) and unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding (31.89%) were common in the pediatric patients. The completion rate of capsule endoscopy was 97.35% (110/113), and the detection rate of lesions in small intestine was 31.81% (35/110). The passage time of small intestine in the gastroscopic group was significantly longer than that of the oral group (461.04±129.27 min VS 288.23±107.84 min, t=5.646, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the passage time of stomach or small intestine among different genders, different ages or different endoscopic examination results ( P>0.05). The positive results of capsule were not correlated with the method of ingestion ( P=0.401, OR=2.562, 95% CI:0.284-23.077), gender ( P=0.154, OR=2.352, 95% CI:0.726-7.616), age ( P=0.949, OR=1.007, 95% CI:0.816-1.242), examination reason ( P=0.246) or small intestine passage time ( P=0.219, OR=1.003, 95% CI:0.998-1.008). No complications such as capsule retention occurred in any pediatric patient. Conclusion:Capsule endoscopy in children is noninvasive, rapid and simple, which can improve the diagnostic rate of small intestinal diseases in children, and can be further promoted in pediatric patients.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic and therapeutic value of one-time biliopancreatic-duct-imaging-system (eyeMax)-assisted endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (ERAT) for children.Methods:A total of 11 children who were diagnosed as having uncomplicated acute appendicitis by imaging in Xi′an Children′s Hospital from August to November 2022 were enrolled. All patients received subscope-assisted ERAT. Subscope was intubated into the appendix cavity to observe the mucosa directly. Appendicitis was treated through cleansing, fecalith extraction, stent drainage. The clinical manifestations under subscope were recorded, as well as the treatment success rate, intubation success rate, the effective rate, complication incidence during and after the operation.Results:The age of 11 children was 7.93±2.67 years old. Appendix intubation was successful in all patients. Congestion and swelling of the mucosa in appendiceal orifice and appendix cavity were seen under the subscope in 11 children. There were 6 cases with appendiceal fecaliths, 8 cases with pus and 6 cases with luminal distortion or stenosis. Perforation was observed in 1 case during the operation and no other complication occurred. All patients were treated under subscope, including flushing appendiceal cavity (11 cases), fecalith extraction with extraction basket (3 cases), and appendiceal drainage with stenting (2 cases). The symptoms and signs were relieved after the operation, and the effective rate within 48 hours was 10/11. There were no procedure-related complications or recurrence during postoperative follow-up for 1 week to 4 months.Conclusion:Acute appendicitis could be diagnosed by observing the appendix cavity directly under one-time biliopancreatic-duct-imaging-system-assisted ERAT, and also could be treated with the system, where appendix could be preserved and radiation damage could be avoided with safety and effectiveness.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of endoscopic radial incision (ERI) for congenital membranous duodenal stenosis (MDS).Methods:The clinical data of 13 children with MDS receiving ERI in the Department of Gastroenterology of Xi'an Children's Hospital from May 2017 to December 2021 were reviewed and analyzed. The perioperative management, surgical procedures, postoperative complications and follow-up were summarized.Results:There were 5 boys and 8 girls with a median disease duration of 8 (2-20) months, and the median age of diagnosis was 13 months (5-30 months). The septum of 10 cases (10/13) was located in the descending part of the duodenum, and that of 3 cases (3/13) in the horizontal part. The papilla of 1 case (1/13) opened on the septum, that of 3 cases (3/13) within 5 cm of the mouth side of the septum, and that of 9 cases (9/13) within 5 cm of the anal side of the septum. The median diameter of the septal aperture was 3 mm (2-6 mm). All 13 children successfully underwent ERI with a median operation time of 20 min (15-32 min). The average surgical incision was 3 strokes (2-4 strokes), and the endoscope with outer diameter 9.9 mm could pass stenosis after ERI. The median incision diameter was 10 mm (10-12 mm). All patients achieved relief of clinical symptoms after ERI. One patient (1/13) suffered from the postoperative delayed bleeding, which was stopped by endoscopic titanium clamping. No intestinal perforation or duodenal papilla injury occurred, and median postoperative hospital stay was 6 days (5-10 days). The upper gastrointestinal angiogram and gastroscopy were repeated 3 months after ERI, and the median diameter of stenosis was 12 mm (10-15 mm), which was significantly dilated compared with before. The mean body weight increase at 1 month after ERI was 1.20 kg (0.50-1.80 kg), and the mean body weight increase at 3 months was 3.50 kg (2.50-4.00 kg), which reached the normal body weight of the same age.Conclusion:ERI is safe and effective for the treatment of MDS in children, and shows good clinical application and promotion value.