Implementation of a Timed Barium Esophagram Protocol for Assessment of Esophageal Function in Children

Retrospective study of 22 pediatric patients demonstrates that timed barium esophagram is a feasible noninvasive screening tool for esophageal emptying disorders in children. Modified diagnostic criteria (1.6 cm barium height at 5 minutes) achieved 100% sensitivity and 80% specificity compared to high-resolution manometry, suggesting pediatric-specific cutoffs may improve diagnostic accuracy over standard adult criteria.