The authors would like to thank Restech for providing an educational grant.

The following study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne.
NOTE: Ensure that the patient arrives NPO for the following gastrointestinal function testing. Perform a high-resolution manometry to determine the exact location of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and to rule out esophageal dysmotility disorders such as achalasia. The patient should be off antisecretory medication for at least 7 days prior to ensure a valid ...

<ol>
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A., Johansson, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Epidemiology+of+gastro-oesophageal+reflux+disease:+a+systematic+review.">Epidemiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review.</a> Gut. 54 (5), 710-717 (2005).</li><li>Koop, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=S2k+guideline:+gastroesophageal+reflux+disease+guided+by+the+German+Society+of+Gastroenterology:+AWMF+register+no.+021-013.">S2k guideline: gastroesophageal reflux disease guided by the German Society of Gastroenterology: AWMF register no. 021-013.</a> Zeitschrift f&#252;r Gastroenterologie. 52 (11), 1299-1346 (2014).</li><li>Becker, V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=New+aspects+in+the+pathomechanism+and+diagnosis+of+the+laryngopharyngeal+reflux-clinical+impact+of+laryngeal+proton+pumps+and+pharyngeal+pH+metry+in+extraesophageal+gastroesophageal+reflux+disease.">New aspects in the pathomechanism and diagnosis of the laryngopharyngeal reflux-clinical impact of laryngeal proton pumps and pharyngeal pH metry in extraesophageal gastroesophageal reflux disease.</a> World Journal of Gastroenterology. 21 (3), 982-987 (2015).</li><li>Vakil, N., van Zanten, S. V., Kahrilas, P., Dent, J., Jones, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Montreal+definition+and+classification+of+gastroesophageal+reflux+disease:+a+global+evidence-based+consensus.">The Montreal definition and classification of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a global evidence-based consensus.</a> American Journal of Gastroenterology. 101 (8), 1900-1920 (2006).</li><li>Issing, W. J., Karkos, P. D., Perreas, K., Folwaczny, C., Reichel, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dual-probe+24-hour+ambulatory+pH+monitoring+for+diagnosis+of+laryngopharyngeal+reflux.">Dual-probe 24-hour ambulatory pH monitoring for diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux.</a> Journal of Laryngology &amp; Otology. 118 (11), 845-848 (2004).</li><li>Smit, C. F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ambulatory+pH+measurements+at+the+upper+esophageal+sphincter.">Ambulatory pH measurements at the upper esophageal sphincter.</a> Laryngoscope. 108 (2), 299-302 (1998).</li><li>Worrell, S. G., DeMeester, S. R., Greene, C. L., Oh, D. S., Hagen, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pharyngeal+pH+monitoring+better+predicts+a+successful+outcome+for+extraesophageal+reflux+symptoms+after+antireflux+surgery.">Pharyngeal pH monitoring better predicts a successful outcome for extraesophageal reflux symptoms after antireflux surgery.</a> Surgical Endoscopy. 27 (11), 4113-4118 (2013).</li><li>Ayazi, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+new+technique+for+measurement+of+pharyngeal+pH:+normal+values+and+discriminating+pH+threshold.">A new technique for measurement of pharyngeal pH: normal values and discriminating pH threshold.</a> Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. 13 (8), 1422-1429 (2009).</li><li>Becker, V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=First+agreement+analysis+and+day-to-day+comparison+of+pharyngeal+pH+monitoring+with+pH/impedance+monitoring+in+patients+with+suspected+laryngopharyngeal+reflux.">First agreement analysis and day-to-day comparison of pharyngeal pH monitoring with pH/impedance monitoring in patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux.</a> Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. 16 (6), 1096-1101 (2012).</li><li>Wilhelm, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pharyngeal+pH+monitoring+in+gastrectomy+patients+-+what+do+we+really+measure.">Pharyngeal pH monitoring in gastrectomy patients - what do we really measure.</a> United European Gastroenterology Journal. 4 (4), 541-545 (2016).</li><li>Mazzoleni, G., Vailati, C., Lisma, D. G., Testoni, P. A., Passaretti, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Correlation+between+oropharyngeal+pH-monitoring+and+esophageal+pH-impedance+monitoring+in+patients+with+suspected+GERD-related+extra-esophageal+symptoms.">Correlation between oropharyngeal pH-monitoring and esophageal pH-impedance monitoring in patients with suspected GERD-related extra-esophageal symptoms.</a> Neurogastroenterology &amp; Motility. 26 (11), 1557-1564 (2014).</li><li>Fuchs, H. F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Simultaneous+laryngopharyngeal+pH+monitoring+(Restech)+and+conventional+esophageal+pH+monitoring-correlation+using+a+large+patient+cohort+of+more+than+100+patients+with+suspected+gastroesophageal+reflux+disease.">Simultaneous laryngopharyngeal pH monitoring (Restech) and conventional esophageal pH monitoring-correlation using a large patient cohort of more than 100 patients with suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease.</a> Dis Esophagus. 31 (10), (2018).</li><li>Fuchs, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Refluxassoziierte+Ver&#228;nderungen+des+Rest&#246;sophagus+nach+&#214;sophagektomie+und+Magenhochzug+-+Funktionsdiagnostik+im+Langzeitverlauf+bei+Patienten+mit+&#214;sophaguskarzinom+mit+einem+neuen+Instrument.">Refluxassoziierte Ver&#228;nderungen des Rest&#246;sophagus nach &#214;sophagektomie und Magenhochzug - Funktionsdiagnostik im Langzeitverlauf bei Patienten mit &#214;sophaguskarzinom mit einem neuen Instrument.</a> Zeitschrift f&#252;r Gastroenterologie. 54 (08), 436 (2016).</li><li>Jamieson, J. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ambulatory+24-h+esophageal+pH+monitoring:+normal+values,+optimal+thresholds,+specificity,+sensitivity,+and+reproducibility.">Ambulatory 24-h esophageal pH monitoring: normal values, optimal thresholds, specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility.</a> American Journal of Gastroenterology. 87 (9), 1102-1111 (1992).</li><li>M&#252;ller, D. T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Software+improvement+for+evaluation+of+laryngopharyngeal+pH+testing+(Restech)+-+a+comparison+between+DataView+3+and+4.">Software improvement for evaluation of laryngopharyngeal pH testing (Restech) - a comparison between DataView 3 and 4.</a> World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. 12 (5), 236-246 (2020).</li><li>Weitzendorfer, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pepsin+and+oropharyngeal+pH+monitoring+to+diagnose+patients+with+laryngopharyngeal+reflux.">Pepsin and oropharyngeal pH monitoring to diagnose patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux.</a> Laryngoscope. 130 (7), 1780-1786 (2020).</li><li>Neto, R. M. L., Herbella, F. A. M., Schlottmann, F., Patti, M. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Does+DeMeester+score+still+define+GERD.">Does DeMeester score still define GERD.</a> Dis Esophagus. 32 (5), (2019).</li><li>Anandasabapathy, S., Jaffin, B. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multichannel+intraluminal+impedance+in+the+evaluation+of+patients+with+persistent+globus+on+proton+pump+inhibitor+therapy.">Multichannel intraluminal impedance in the evaluation of patients with persistent globus on proton pump inhibitor therapy.</a> Annals of Otology, Rhinology &amp; Laryngology. 115 (8), 563-570 (2006).</li></ol>

Dolores M&#252;ller received an educational grant from Restech. All other authors have nothing to disclose.

Esophageal pH monitoring is commonly used to confirm the diagnosis of GERD in patients with typical reflux symptoms. However, many patients present, in addition to typical reflux symptoms, with atypical reflux symptoms such as cough or hoarseness most likely related to LPR. Current guidelines suggest an empiric trial with PPIs to proof a reflux related origin of those symptoms and a standardized objective measurement is lacking2. Laryngopharyngeal pH testing, due to its location above the upper es...

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common benign diseases affecting up to 20% of people in western countries1. In addition to typical symptoms such as heartburn or regurgitation, some patients may suffer from atypical symptoms such as cough, hoarseness, or asthma2,3. Despite the agreement that chronic cough, chronic laryngitis, and asthma can have a reflux related origin and are significantly associated with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), the exact pathomechanism still remains unclear. As these symptoms are usually part of a multifactorial process, they depict a great diagnostic and therapeutic challenge4.
Distal esophageal pH monitoring 5 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter is commonly used to determine abnormal esophageal acid exposure in patients with suspected GERD2. In an attempt to use the same technique, proximal conventional pH monitoring was introduced in the late 1990s as a diagnostic device to measure abnormal acid exposure at the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) as the probe is placed at or slightly above the UES. However, this method does not always provide valid and accurate results as the probe is not designed for an oropharyngeal environment leading to the measurement of invalid artifacts such as pseudoreflux events caused by drying out of the probe5,6.
Lately, laryngopharyngeal pH monitoring was introduced as a new diagnostic device specifically designed to measure acid exposure in the oropharynx, as the probe is placed above the UES slightly lateral to the uvula (Figure 1). Since previous research has shown it to have a positive predictive value of 80% for a successful outcome after antireflux surgery in patients with primarily atypical symptoms, this new tool has been a valuable addition to the diagnostic pathway in selected patients. Its tear drop sensor is equipped with an antimony technology that detects liquid and aerosolized acid and does not need direct mucosal contact to measure valid results. In addition, the sensor can, in contrast to proximal pH monitoring, resist drying out which may lead to more reliable results7,8.
Current literature on the correlation of concomitant conventional esophageal and laryngopharyngeal pH measurement is sparse. Previous studies either included only a small number of patients or did not perform both measurements simultaneously9,10,11. We recently published data on the correlation between both pH measurements in a large cohort of 101 patients with suspected GERD. We concluded that laryngopharyngeal and esophageal pH measurement do not necessarily need to correspond due to the existence of a variety of different reflux scenarios12. We furthermore developed a human reflux model with patients following esophagectomy and reconstruction with a gastric interposition showing 100% correlation between both pH monitoring methods in volume-refluxers13.
Here, we aim to provide instructions for simultaneous pH measurement using distal esophageal and laryngopharyngeal pH monitoring. In addition, guidance on analysis of composite acid exposure scores and correlation between results obtained by both methods is given. We furthermore present the newest data of a large patient cohort evaluated using simultaneous esophageal and laryngopharyngeal pH monitoring.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>AA Battery</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>-</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Calibration Solutions pH 4 and 7</td>
			<td>Medtronic</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>part of the Digitrapper Reflux Testing system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CR 1632 Lithium coin cell battery</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>-</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Digitrapper pH &#38; Impedance catheter</td>
			<td>Medtronic</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Digitrapper Recorder</td>
			<td>Medtronic</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gelicain</td>
			<td>PUREN</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>topical gel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydration vials with clear water</td>
			<td>Respiratory Technology Corporation</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>part of the Restech Dx pH system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Leukoplast</td>
			<td>BSN medical GmbH</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>surgical tape</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Restech Dx pH probe</td>
			<td>Respiratory Technology Corporation</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>part of the Restech Dx pH system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Restech Recorder</td>
			<td>Respiratory Technology Corporation</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>part of the Restech Dx pH system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Restech Transmitter</td>
			<td>Respiratory Technology Corporation</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>part of the Restech Dx pH system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Screwdriver</td>
			<td>Respiratory Technology Corporation</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>part of the Restech Dx pH system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SD Card plus Adapter</td>
			<td>Respiratory Technology Corporation</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>part of the Restech Dx pH system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>tongue depressor</td>
			<td>NOBAMED</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>wooden</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

simultaneous laryngopharyngeal and conventional esophageal ph monitoring

In addition to typical reflux symptoms, many patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) present with extraesophageal symptoms such as cough, hoarseness or asthma, which can be caused by laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Due to their multifactorial origin, those symptoms can be a great diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Esophageal pH-monitoring is commonly used to determine abnormal esophageal acid exposure and confirm the diagnosis of GERD. However, for better evaluation of acid exposure above the upper esophageal sphincter, a new laryngopharyngeal pH measurement system is now available and may lead to more reliable results in patients with predominantly extraesophageal symptoms. This article aims to present a standardized protocol for simultaneous pH measurement using esophageal and laryngopharyngeal pH probes in order to obtain acid exposure scores from both measurements.

A total of 181 patients were evaluated using the previously described standardized protocol. Results of the first 101 patients have been previously published12. The following data depicts an extension of the previously published cohort, however, evaluated using the new software for analyzation of results obtained by laryngopharyngeal pH testing15. Demographic data is depicted in Table 1. All patients presented with atypical symptoms including chronic cough,...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Simultaneous Laryngopharyngeal and Conventional Esophageal pH Monitoring at JoVE.com

Simultaneous Laryngopharyngeal and Conventional Esophageal pH Monitoring

Laryngopharyngeal pH monitoring has been specifically designed to measure acid exposure above the upper esophageal sphincter and complements diagnostic evaluation in patients that present with mainly extraesophageal reflux symptoms. Patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) were evaluated using distal esophageal and laryngopharyngeal pH testing simultaneously.

In addition to typical reflux symptoms, many patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) present with extraesophageal symptoms such as cough, ...

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2.6K Views.  University of Cologne. Laryngopharyngeal pH monitoring has been specifically designed to measure acid exposure above the upper esophageal sphincter and complements diagnostic evaluation in patients that present with mainly extraesophageal reflux symptoms. Patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) were evaluated using distal esophageal and laryngopharyngeal pH testing simultaneously.