Multichannel intraluminal impedance accurately detects fasting, recumbent reflux events and their clearing

Multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) is a new diagnostic test for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The objective of this report is to determine the accuracy of MII in detecting individual reflux events (REs) identified by pH probe and manometry, as well as their clearing in patients with severe GERD compared with normal volunteers. Ten severe GERD patients and 10 normal volunteers underwent simultaneous manometry [7 sites: gastric, lower esophageal sphincter, esophagus (4), pharynx], pH, and MII (6 sites in esophagus) for 15 min in the left and right recumbent posture while fasting. We found that patients had 30-fold more REs than normal volunteers (41 ± 11 vs. 1.3 ± 0.4), and 95% of all REs were detected by MII. An average 15-fold fall in impedance with liquid and fivefold rise with gas made REs and their composition easy to detect with MII. In the right recumbent posture, nearly all REs detected by MII were liquid (98%, 98/100). In contrast, all 283 REs detected by MII in the left recumbent posture were gas. Nearly all REs detected by MII were cleared (98%, 368/374). Mean acid clearing time was threefold longer (47 s) than clearing time by either manometry (15 s) or MII (13 s), primarily due to acid rereflux, i.e., additional acid REs during acid clearing. We conclude that MII is accurate in detecting REs identified by manometry and/or pH probe, their composition, and their clearing.

Esophageal Dysfunction in Patients with Contact Ulcer of the Larynx

Vocal abuse is the best-known etiological factor in contact ulcer. Other factors, such as hiatus hernia and gastroesophageal reflux have been discussed. A 12-year study of 58 male patients (mean age 52 years) with present or previous contact ulcers, is reported. Forty-three patients were investigated with esophageal function tests, ie, esophageal manometry including pH monitoring, acid-perfusion test, and acid-clearing test. Esophageal dysfunction was found in 74% which is significantly higher than the 30% found in the general population.

Treatment of Central Venous Silastic Catheter Infections Using Hydrochloric Acid

Patients receiving long-term home parenteral nutrition through a subcutaneously tunnelled central venous silastic catheter underwent a trial of 1.5 ml of 2M hydrochloric acid instilled into the catheter each time an episode of catheter sepsis was diagnosed. Four patients had eleven episodes of central venous catheter infection, with the hydrochloric acid clearing the infection on seven occasions, and unblocking the catheter once. The mainstay of therapy for catheter sepsis is removal of the catheter. However, in patients with subcutaneously tunnelled central venous silastic catheters, if reinserting the catheter is anticipated to be a major problem then a small dose of hydrochloric acid in an attempt to clear the infection may be worth a trial.