Article

Effect of endoscopic augmentation of the lower oesophageal sphincter (Gatekeeper reflux repair system) on intraoesophageal dynamic characteristics of acid reflux.

Department of Digestive Disease, University Campus Bio Medico, Rome (Italy).
Gut (impact factor: 10.11). 02/2005; 54(2):183-6. DOI:10.1136/gut.2004.040501 pp.183-6
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Improvements in symptoms following endoscopic procedures for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) are seldom supported by normalisation of acid exposure time at the distal oesophagus. However, the distribution of gastric acid within the proximal oesophagus is a main determinant of symptom generation in GORD patients. In this study, our aim was to assess the effect of endoscopic insertion of hydrogel expandable prostheses into the oesophageal submucosa on spatiotemporal characteristics of gastro-oesophageal reflux.
Oesophageal manometry and multichannel ambulatory 24 hour pH monitoring were carried out in nine patients before and six months after the endoscopic procedure. Dynamic characteristics of gastro-oesophageal reflux in patients were also compared with those in 13 asymptomatic controls.
Acid exposure time (AET) at the distal oesophagus decreased from 11.7% (95% confidence interval 6.1-21.8) at baseline to 7.7% (3.7-11.6) at follow up (NS). Of the nine patients, distal AET normalised in three. AET at the middle (7.6% (2.9-12.3)) and proximal (2.4% (0.1-4.8)) oesophagus decreased significantly in all patients (2.4% (0.3-4.5), p <0.01; 1.2% (0.2-2.2), p<0.05 respectively). Proximal extent of acid events significantly decreased in all patients at follow up (37.3% v 9.5%), reaching values observed in asymptomatic controls. Median GORD health related quality of life scores significantly improved from 35.5 at baseline to 9.4.
Despite the lack of a significant improvement in traditional pH variables, endoscopic implant of hydrogel prostheses above the lower oesophageal sphincter significantly decreases proximal spread of acid reflux into oesophageal body. This effect would explain the improvement in symptoms in patients six months after therapy.

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  • Article: The symptom-association probability: an improved method for symptom analysis of 24-hour esophageal pH data.
    B L Weusten, J M Roelofs, L M Akkermans, G P Van Berge-Henegouwen, A J Smout
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: All methods currently used to quantify the temporal relationships between symptoms and episodes of gastroesophageal reflux, as assessed by 24-hour pH monitoring, have major shortcomings. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a simple, all-comprising statistical method to calculate the probability that gastroesophageal reflux episodes and symptoms are associated. The 24-hour pH signal was divided into consecutive 2-minute periods. These periods and the 2-minute periods preceding the onset of symptoms were evaluated for the occurrence of reflux. Fisher's Exact Test was then applied to calculate the probability (P value) that reflux and symptom episodes were unrelated. Finally, the symptom-association probability (SAP) was calculated as (1.0 - P) x 100%. The SAP values found in 184 24-hour esophageal pH tests were compared with the symptom index and the symptom sensitivity index. Discordance between the SAP and the symptom index was found in 21 patients (11%) and discordance between the SAP and the symptom-sensitivity index in 28 (15%). False-positive and false-negative symptom index values occurred preferentially in patients with small and large numbers of symptom episodes during the test, respectively (P < 0.05). The SAP is a single, simple, quantitative measure of the strength of the association between symptoms and reflux episodes that is devoid of the disadvantages inherent to previously used methods.
    Gastroenterology 12/1994; 107(6):1741-5. · 11.68 Impact Factor
Data provided are for informational purposes only. Although carefully collected, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The impact factor represents a rough estimation of the journal's impact factor and does not reflect the actual current impact factor. Publisher conditions are provided by RoMEO. Differing provisions from the publisher's actual policy or licence agreement may be applicable.

Keywords

13 asymptomatic controls
 
acid events
 
Acid exposure time
 
asymptomatic controls
 
distal AET normalised
 
distal oesophagus
 
endoscopic procedure
 
gastric acid
 
gastro-oesophageal reflux
 
gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
 
GORD patients
 
life scores
 
lower oesophageal sphincter
 
Median GORD health
 
nine patients
 
oesophageal body
 
Oesophageal manometry
 
oesophageal submucosa
 
proximal oesophagus
 
traditional pH variables
 

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