The ESPGHAN Pediatric Impedance Group (PIG) has published a review/consensus statement on the use of pH-Impedance monitoring (MII-pH) in children (JPGN 2012; 55: 230-34).

Conclusions from this group:

• MII-pH provides more information than conventional pH probe.  Whether this information will “inform prognosis, or predict response to therapy in pediatric patients has yet to be determined”
• ‘As long as there is no effective medical therapy for weakly acid and nonacid reflux, the clinical relevance of MII-pH remains debatable’
• “There are no data on the results of antireflux surgery based solely on the detection of weakly acid and nonacid reflux”
• MII-pH is investigational technique needing standardization before routine diagnostic use can be recommended.
• Major indications: need to identify weakly acid and nonacid reflux, persisting symptoms during antireflux treatment, use in identifying rumination syndrome, and research
• Limitations of MII-pH: high cost, limited contribution to change in medical care, lack of evidence-based parameters for assessment of GER

Related blog entries:

Gastroesophageal Reflux: I know it when I see it

Treating reflux does not help asthma

The Medical Pendulum and Gastroesophageal Reflux