Appropriateness of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in children: a retrospective study.

Background: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) is appropriate in many situations in adults and children. Recommendations for UGIE use in children were published recently by the French-language Paediatric Hepatology, Gastroenterology, and Nutrition Group (GFHGNP).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the 293 UGIE procedures undertaken in 251 children between January 1, 2001 and June 30, 2003 by 2 senior endoscopists.

Double-blind randomized evaluation of clinical and biological tolerance of polyethylene glycol 4000 versus lactulose in constipated children.

Objectives: To assess the safety of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 laxative without additional salts in pediatric patients.

Study Design: This was a 3-month multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, lactulose-controlled, parallel study enrolling 96 ambulatory constipated children aged 6 months to 3 years, treated daily with 4-8 g PEG or 3.33 g-6.

Analysis of the olfactory capacity of healthy children before language acquisition.

The absence of a method for evaluating the olfaction of infants and children without structured language led us to perform a longitudinal study of the behavioral responses of very young children. The aim was to establish a tool for verifying a child's olfactory ability during a pediatric examination. A total of 107 subjects were observed and filmed during a regular olfactory activity.

Congenital extra-hepatic portocaval shunt. Concerning a case of antenatal diagnosis.

The authors report a case of congenital extra-hepatic portocaval shunt in a two-year-old girl. While pointed out antenatally by ultrasound and suspected by a follow-up ultrasound at the age of two years, this anomaly could be confirmed only by coupled ultrasound scanning and color Doppler, which allows for dynamic anatomic and morphologic evaluation. Comments concern mainly the embryologic hypothesis and the clinical tolerance of this malformation (because no therapeutic measures were adopted).