[Evaluation of the usefulness of assessing pulmonary aspiration in a gastroesophageal reflux scintigraphy study]. / Análise da utilidade da pesquisa de aspiração pulmonar no exame de cintilografia para a avaliação de refluxo gastroesofágico.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefit of routine pulmonary imaging with a five hour delay in gastroesophageal reflux scintigraphy (GERS) to detect pulmonary aspiration. METHODS: 755 cases were analyzed (400 men, 355 women) within a wide range of age (1 month up to 94 years, mean of 5.2 years). Presence of reflux, its frequency, severity, and esophageal extension were investigated. Delayed pulmonary images assessed the presence of radioactivity in the lungs. RESULTS: 307 cases of gastroesophageal reflux were identified, 84 of which with just one episode, 51 with 2 episodes, 45 with 3, 37 with 4, 18 with 5, and 72 with more than 5. Concerning severity of these 307 cases 22 had no evaluation, 179 were mild, 69 intermediate, and 37 severe. Degree of esophageal extension was not recorded for 6 cases; in 46 cases reflux covered the lower third of the esophagus, in 83 cases it reached the central third, in 161 the upper third, and in 11 cases it extended to the mouth. Delayed pulmonary images were available in 753 cases and none showed signs of lung aspiration. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed pulmonary images were negative in all cases regardless of the patients' age or severity of the disease. This is suggestive that either lung aspiration is rare in GERS procedures or delayed pulmonary imaging has a sensitivity that is too low to permit detection.

Análise da utilidade da pesquisa de aspiração pulmonar no exame de cintilografia para a avaliação de refluxo gastroesofágico / Evaluation of the usefulness of assessing pulmonary aspiration in a gastroesophageal reflux scintigraphy study

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a utilidade da realização rotineira da imagem tardia de campos pulmonares cinco horas após a ingestão do radiofármaco, no exame de cintilografia para pesquisa de refluxo gastroesofágico (PRGE), com a finalidade de detectar a presença de aspiração pulmonar. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados retrospectivamente 755 exames (400 homens, 355 mulheres) com idade média de 5,18 anos (variando de 1 mês até 94,5 anos). Os exames foram analisados segundo a presença de refluxo, sua freqüência, sua intensidade e a altura do esôfago atingida. Avaliou-se também a presença de atividade radioativa em campos pulmonares nas imagens tardias. RESULTADOS: Trezentos e sete exames apresentaram episódios de refluxo gastroesofágico: 84 exames apresentaram um episódio, 51 apresentaram dois, 45 apresentaram três, 37 apresentaram quatro, 18 apresentaram cinco e 72 apresentaram mais do que cinco episódios. Em 179 exames observou-se refluxo de grau discreto, 69 de grau moderado, 37 de grau acentuado e em 22 exames o grau de refluxo não foi registrado. Quarenta e seis exames apresentaram refluxo até o terço inferior do esôfago, 83 até o terço médio, 161 até o terço superior, 11 até a boca e seis exames não tiveram a altura do refluxo registrada. A imagem tardia foi realizada em 753 exames não se observando nenhum episódio de aspiração pulmonar. CONCLUSÃO: A imagem tardia de campos pulmonares na PRGE nunca foi positiva neste grupo de exames, o que pode ser decorrente da raridade de aspiração pulmonar na nossa amostra de pacientes, da baixa sensibilidade do método para detectar aspiração pulmonar ou de ambos os fatores.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefit of routine pulmonary imaging with a five hour delay in gastroesophageal reflux scintigraphy (GERS) to detect pulmonary aspiration. METHODS: 755 cases were analyzed (400 men, 355 women) within a wide range of age (1 month up to 94 years, mean of 5.2 years). Presence of reflux, its frequency, severity, and esophageal extension were investigated. Delayed pulmonary images assessed the presence of radioactivity in the lungs. RESULTS: 307 cases of gastroesophageal reflux were identified, 84 of which with just one episode, 51 with 2 episodes, 45 with 3, 37 with 4, 18 with 5, and 72 with more than 5. Concerning severity of these 307 cases 22 had no evaluation, 179 were mild, 69 intermediate, and 37 severe. Degree of esophageal extension was not recorded for 6 cases; in 46 cases reflux covered the lower third of the esophagus, in 83 cases it reached the central third, in 161 the upper third, and in 11 cases it extended to the mouth. Delayed pulmonary images were available in 753 cases and none showed signs of lung aspiration. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed pulmonary images were negative in all cases regardless of the patients' age or severity of the disease. This is suggestive that either lung aspiration is rare in GERS procedures or delayed pulmonary imaging has a sensitivity that is too low to permit detection.