Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology

Volume 110, Issue 6, June 1996, Pages 1982-1996
Gastroenterology

Clinical esophageal pH recording: A technical review for practice guideline development

https://doi.org/10.1053/gast.1996.1101982Get rights and content

Abstract

Our present concept of peptic esophagitis dates back to 1935, when Winkelstein suggested that gastric secretions were the cause of mucosal damage observed in peptic esophagitis.1

GASTROENTEROLOGY 1996;110-1982-1996

Section snippets

Technical aspects of ambulatory pH recordings

During the past decade, esophageal pH monitoring has evolved into a relatively standardized method with respect to instrumentation. It is not our intent to review that evolution or to describe the multitude of methodological modifications applied to the pH monitoring technique for data acquisition in an investigative setting. Rather, we will examine the methodological variables of the test as applied in clinical practice along with data showing the impact of these variables on pH recordings

Role of esophageal pH recording in clinical practice

Ambulatory esophageal pH recording can potentially aid in the diagnosis and management of esophageal syndromes involving gastroesophageal reflux, extraesophageal manifestations of GERD, or chest pain. In each of these clinical scenarios we will attempt to (1) identify the pH recording abnormality associated with the condition, (2) assess the potential for identifying patients on the basis of pH recordings, and (3) determine the effect of detecting pH recording abnormalities on clinical

Conclusions and clinical recommendations

Ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring has emerged as a widely available method for quantifying esophageal acid exposure, and this measurement has been invaluable as a research tool in the investigation of the pathogenesis and treatment of GERD. The test is performed with compact portable data loggers, miniature pH electrodes, and computerized data analysis. There is an emerging consensus that the pH electrode should be positioned 5 cm above the manometrically defined upper limit of the LES, that

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the participants in the American Gastroenterological Society/American Motility Society Workshops on Motility Testing in Clinical Practice held on December 8, 1995, for critique of the manuscript and guidelines. The Patient Care Committee acknowledges the following individuals, whose critiques of this review paper provided valuable guidance to the authors: Richard H. Hunt, Timothy H. Nostrant, and Joel E. Richter.

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