Summary
Background
Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is commonly treated with empiric acid suppression.
More evidence points to pepsin in the pathophysiology of LPR. Previous studies have
evaluated esophageal impedance in patients who had previously failed high dose proton
pump inhibitor (PPI) using older catheters without proximal esophageal (just under
the upper esophageal sphincter) and pharyngeal impedance sensors. The aim of this
study was to compare what traditional diagnostic tools, used for esophageal reflux,
would detect and diagnose compared with what a combined hypopharyngeal-esophageal
MII catheter with dual pH (HEMII-pH) can detect in the esophagus and pharynx in patients
with suspected LPR.
Methods
Forty-two subjects with presumed LPR were referred for HEMII-pH testing. The number
of distal and proximal esophageal impedance events, number of pharyngeal impedance
events, symptom correlation, and event acidity were recorded. Previous normative values
(>1 pharyngeal impedance events every 24 hours) were used to designate what was pathological
LPR on HEMII-pH.
Results
Forty-two total subjects had pharyngeal impedance sensor data recorded. Twelve (28.6%)
of the subjects were tested while taking high-dose PPI therapy. The mean number of
proximal esophageal events was 23.3. The mean number of pharyngeal impedance events
was 10. Thirty-four subjects (81%) tested positive for pharyngeal reflux. All patients
who tested positive using traditional proximal impedance criteria also tested positive
using pharyngeal criteria. Of patients who tested negative using traditional criteria,
72% were positive based on pharyngeal criteria.
Conclusions
HEMII-pH catheters should be considered in patients with LPR symptoms. Traditional
criteria used for diagnosing esophageal reflux may not translate into LPR.
Level of Evidence
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 03, 2018
Accepted:
March 13,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
