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Esophageal and Gastric Disorders in Infancy and Childhood pp 913–924Cite as

Endoscopy with Biopsy for Esophagitis

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Abstract

Endoscopy of the whole upper GI tract (esophagus, stomach, and duodenum) with multiple biopsies is the investigation of choice in the evaluation of infants and children with symptoms suggestive of esophagitis [1, 2]. From the technical and technique aspects, useful texts to refer to are available for pediatric-specific endoscopy nowadays [3, 4]. Endoscopy should be performed only by experienced and qualified pediatric endoscopists trained in endoscopy in infants and children, with appropriate back up from pediatric anesthesiologists, and most importantly pediatric GI histopathologists. Technology now allows us to perform esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in even the smallest infants using 5.5 mm diameter instruments [5, 6]. EGD and biopsy, however, are useful only if it will lead to alteration in diagnosis, treatment, or prognosis, and useful position papers for the individual and conjoint North American and European Pediatric Gastroenterology Societies have been published on reflux and esophagitis, including the place of endoscopy in management of these conditions [2, 7–11]. Short general anesthetic is preferable to IV sedation for the procedure for reasons of safety, ease, and success of a complete and comprehensive study [12], although, with an anesthesiologist present, short-acting agents such as propofol can be used.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2TH, UK

    Mike Thomson

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Correspondence to Mike Thomson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    Holger Till

  2. Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Paediatric Gastroenterology Centre, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Mike Thomson

  3. Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    John E. Foker

  4. Department Surgery, University of Missouri, Kansas City Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

    George W. Holcomb III

  5. University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    Khalid M. Khan

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Thomson, M. (2017). Endoscopy with Biopsy for Esophagitis. In: Till, H., Thomson, M., Foker, J., Holcomb III, G., Khan, K. (eds) Esophageal and Gastric Disorders in Infancy and Childhood. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11202-7_79

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