Electrogastrography in children with cerebral palsy: Abnormal postprandial response to both fast- and slow-emptying meals

BackgroundProtein composition influences rate of gastric emptying (GE). Electrogastrography (EGG) describes the myoelectrical activity of the stomach. There is limited information regarding gastric myoelectrical activity (GMA) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and in the relation to “fast and slow” emptying meals.AimTo evaluate EGG in children with CP and gastrostomy and relate these findings to GE and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.Methods20 children with CP and gastrostomy received two meals with different protein sources, double blinded on two different days; Meal A: 100% casein and Meal B: 40% casein & 60% whey. A 30 min preprandial and a 60 min postprandial cutaneous EGG was performed. 13C octanoic acid breath test was used to assess GE. Spearman correlation technique was applied.ResultsA decrease in % postprandial normogastria was observed for both meals, significantly after meal B, (p = 0.004). For the fastest emptying meal (meal B), there were significant correlations between GE variables and EGG variables. There was no relation between variables of GE and EGG for meal A or between EGG variables and GI symptoms.ConclusionThe expected increase in percentage postprandial normogastria was not observed, and abnormal postprandial response to caloric liquid meals thus seems to be common in children with CP. EGG had limited clinical value in this population.ClinicalTrials.gov: UUSKBK 28200706.