Comparison of an Oropharyngeal pH Probe and a Standard Dual pH Probe for Diagnosis of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Abstract

Objectives:

We compared the ability of an oropharyngeal (OP) aerosol-detecting pH probe and a standard dual pH probe in measuring laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).

Methods:

Fifteen subjects with LPR symptoms had 24-hour simultaneous placement of the OP probe and a standard dual pH probe. Acid exposure was defined as a 10% pH decrease below baseline for the OP probe or a pH of less than 4 at the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) probe of the dual pH probe.

Results:

The mean duration of acid exposure was 650 seconds (SD, 619) or 0.75% of the total time for the OP probe and 438 seconds (SD, 511) or 0.51% of the total time for the UES probe. When we excluded meals and sleep, the mean duration of acid exposure was 271 seconds (SD, 356) or 0.31% of the total time for the OP probe and 271 seconds (SD, 359) or 0.31% of the total time for the UES probe. The correlation coefficient (R) between the two probes for measurement of the duration of acid exposure was 0.50 (p < 0.05). When we excluded meals and the supine position, the R was notably higher, at 0.95 (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

The OP probe reliably documented LPR events when meals and sleep were eliminated and was better tolerated than the standard dual probe.

Keywords

acid reflux extraesophageal reflux gastroesophageal reflux disease laryngopharyngeal reflux pH probe supraesophageal reflux

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