(Sutcliffe Sandifer syndrome)

Estimated prevalence: < 1 % of cases of severe gastroesophageal reflux disease. Acquired and reversible movement disorder. Abnormal posture and movements ( dystonia type of the head and neck (tilted sideways and forward for a few minutes) associated with gastro-esophageal reflux (often with hiatal hernia). Occasional episodes of 'opisthotonos type' paroxysmal dystonia. Onset in early childhood.

Frequently present: vomiting, epigastric pain, anemia, sometimes hematemesis.

The symptomatology disappears with an effective (medical or surgical) treatment of the reflux.

Anesthetic implications:

major gastro-esophageal reflux

References : 

-        Wirth M, Bonnemains C, Auger J, Raffo E, Leheup B.
Syndrome de Sandifer chez une enfant de 5 mois admise pour des spasmes épileptiques.
Arch Pédiatr 2016 ; 23 :159-62. 

-        Kato D, Uchida H,  Amano H,  Yokota K,  Shirota C, Tainaka T et al.
A systematic review of Sandifer syndrome in children with severe gastroesophageal reflux. 
Pediatric Surgery International 2024 ;40 : 91

Updated: April 2024