BPG is committed to discovery and dissemination of knowledge
Review
Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Clin Pediatr. Dec 9, 2026; 15(4): 122141
Published online Dec 9, 2026. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.122141
Gastric motility abnormalities in pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease: A comprehensive review of mechanisms and therapeutic implications
Niranga Manjuri Devanarayana, Shaman Rajindrajith
Niranga Manjuri Devanarayana, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama 11010, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Shaman Rajindrajith, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo 00800, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Author contributions: Devanarayana NM and Rajindrajith S wrote the manuscript and prepared figures and tables.
AI contribution statement: Some sections of this manuscript were edited using the Grammarly Premium Software (© 2025 Grammarly, Inc., 548 Market St. #35410, San Francisco, CA 94104). This tool was solely used for language refinement. The authors carefully reviewed and verified all AI-assisted outputs and take full responsibility for the scientific content of the manuscript. In addition, during the preparation of this manuscript, the authors utilized the generative artificial intelligence tool Gemini (Google) to convert an original, hand-drawn schematic sketch into a high-resolution electronic background graphic (Figures 2 and 3). The prompts provided to the AI were strictly limited to visual optimization, format conversion, and line-smoothing of the author's proprietary sketch. The authors have reviewed, verified, and edited the final electronic graphics and take full responsibility for their accuracy, scientific integrity, and compliance with the journal's image quality standards.
Supported by the Research Council Grant of the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, No. RC/2026/PPRP 06.
Conflict-of-interest statement: Both authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Niranga Manjuri Devanarayana, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Thalagolla Road, Ragama 11010, Western Province, Sri Lanka. niranga@kln.ac.lk
Received: April 14, 2026
Revised: June 15, 2026
Accepted: July 13, 2026
Published online: December 9, 2026
Processing time: 158 Days and 19.9 Hours
Core Tip

Core Tip: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in infants and children and significantly affects their well-being. While lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction is central to its pathophysiology, gastric dysmotility is increasingly recognized as a key contributor. This narrative review examines the relationship between gastric motor dysfunction and pediatric GERD, highlighting associated abnormalities, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic strategies. Future research should focus on developing safe, non-invasive diagnostic tools and targeted treatments addressing gastric motility disturbances. A deeper understanding of gastric motor dysfunction will help clinicians tailor interventions, improving outcomes and quality of life of affected children.

Write to the Help Desk