Extraesophageal reflux

Extraesophageal reflux disease often requires diagnosis and treatment by a phoniatry or ear, nose and throat specialist. The disease needs to be differentiated from gastroesophageal reflux disease. A new oropharyngeal pH measuring system with a single channel probe has recently been introduced. The aim of this study was to compare oropharyngeal pH-metry with the existing diagnostic methods for extraesophageal reflux disease and to present initial results in our own patients. A literature search for oropharyngeal pH-metry was performed in the databases NHS EED, HTA, DARE, Clinical trials, Cochrane reviews and Medline/PubMed. A selective literature search was also carried out on the problem of extraesophageal reflux disease. Evaluation scales, trial proton pump inhibitor therapy or pH-metry, for example, can be used to diagnose extraesophageal reflux disease. pH-metry can be performed using a classical two-channel pH-metry system; a new oropharyngeal pH measuring system has recently been introduced. This new method has been evaluated in initial studies for normative data and has been compared to two-channel pH-metry. Prospective randomised studies to diagnose extraesophageal reflux disease with the new oropharyngeal pH-metry method are still lacking. Oropharyngeal pH-metry has some potential advantages compared to classical two-channel pH-metry; however, a lot of questions remain unanswered. These will be discussed and illustrated with the help of a number of own patient case reports.