Signes respiratoires associés à un reflux gastro-oesophagien: étude rétrospective de 132 cas opérés chez l'enfant et chez l'adulte

: We carried out a retrospective study of 132 cases of respiratory disorders associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux involving 66 children, 42 boys and 24 girls, 4 days to 10 years old with a mean of 22 months. We also studied 66 adults, 37 men and 29 women, 16 to 74 years old. In the infants the mean duration of respiratory disorders was 17 months and a recurrent broncho-pulmonary infection was the principal indication (40 cases). Alimentary symptoms were present in 34 cases. There was evidence of reflux in 60 cases. The suppression of any reflux was obtained surgically in 95% of cases with a disappearance of the respiratory disorders in 78.6% of cases and their improvement in 16.4% of cases with a mean follow up period of 4.3 years. In the adults the mean duration of the respiratory disorders was 9.7 years and asthma was the principal cause (38 cases). Alimentary symptoms were present in 56 cases with evidence of reflux in 64 cases. A suppression of the reflux was achieved surgically in 94% of cases with a disappearance of the respiratory disorders in 36% of cases and their improvement in 28% of cases with a mean follow up period of 4.7 years. The correlation between the disappearance of reflux and the respiratory symptoms and signs in the children should perhaps be tempered by the natural history of the maturation of the inferior oesophageal sphincter. However surgery shortens the danger period in serious situations which are life threatening.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)