[Influence of hiatal hernia of the diaphragm of the intensity of gastroesophageal reflux in children].

The aim of the study was to evaluate how the hiatal hernia acts on the gastroesophageal reflux (GER). We observed 52 children (31 boys, and 21 girls) aged from 2 months to 12 years (mean age 14,3 months), who were diagnosed as having GER by clinical symptoms and 24-hr oesophageal pH monitoring. All patients underwent barium radiological examination. According to the absence or presence of hiatal hernia diagnosed by barium radiology, subjects were divided into two groups: I- without hernia, II-with hernia. In both groups 24-hr oesophageal pH monitoring was analyzed. We found that patients with sliding hiatal hernia had significantly higher median percent total time when oesophageal pH was below 4, significantly higher median total number of reflux episodes and higher median time of duration of oesophageal episodes. Median number of episodes greater than five minutes did not significantly differ in both groups. We conclude that hiatal hernia increases the GER.