Evidence Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2023. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Pediatr. Sep 9, 2023; 12(4): 162-170
Published online Sep 9, 2023. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v12.i4.162
Use of endolumenal functional lumen imaging probe in investigating paediatric gastrointestinal motility disorders
Emily White, Mohamed Mutalib
Emily White, Mohamed Mutalib, Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
Mohamed Mutalib, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
Author contributions: White E wrote the draft; Mutalib M wrote and edited the manuscript; and all authors approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mohamed Mutalib, MD, Doctor, Lecturer, Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom. mohamed.mutalib@gstt.nhs.uk
Received: July 9, 2023
Peer-review started: July 9, 2023
First decision: July 19, 2023
Revised: August 9, 2023
Accepted: August 23, 2023
Article in press: August 23, 2023
Published online: September 9, 2023
Processing time: 58 Days and 18.3 Hours
Abstract

Investigating gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders relies on diagnostic tools to assess muscular contractions, peristalsis propagation and the integrity and coordination of various sphincters. Manometries are the gold standard to study the GI motor function but it is increasingly acknowledged that manometries do not provide a complete picture in relation to sphincters competencies and muscle fibrosis. Endolumenal functional lumen imaging probe (EndoFLIP) an emerging technology, uses impedance planimetry to measure hollow organs cross sectional area, distensibility and compliance. It has been successfully used as a complementary tool in the assessment of the upper and lower oesophageal sphincters, oesophageal body, the pylorus and the anal canal. In this article, we aim to review the uses of EndoFLIP as a tool to investigate GI motility disorders with a special focus on paediatric practice. The majority of EndoFLIP studies were conducted in adult patients but the uptake of the technology in paediatrics is increasing. EndoFLIP can provide a useful complementary data to the existing GI motility investigation in both children and adults.

Keywords: Endolumenal functional lumen imaging probe; Paediatric; Gastrointestinal motility

Core Tip: Manometries are commonly used to investigate gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders albeit with acknowledged limitation to their diagnostic yield. Endolumenal functional lumen imaging probe (EndoFLIP), an emerging technology uses impedance planimetry to provide cross sectional area, distensibility and diameter of a hollow organ. EndoFLIP is increasingly used as an adjunct diagnostic tool to provide diagnostic information and to guide therapy for many GI motility disorders.