145
Views
61
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Article

Wireless oesophageal pH monitoring: Feasibility, safety and normal values in healthy subjects

, MD, , &
Pages 768-774 | Received 26 Jan 2005, Published online: 08 Jul 2009
 

Objective

A new wireless technique for oesophageal pH monitoring has recently been introduced (Bravo®). To implement this technique in clinical practice, values of normal oesophageal acid exposure need to be defined in a large age- and gender-matched healthy population. The aims of this study were to investigate the feasibility and safety of the wireless technique and to establish normal values for oesophageal acid exposure.

Material and methods

Fifty-seven asymptomatic subjects underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with transoral placement of a radio-transmitting capsule 6 cm above the squamocolumnar junction. Oesophageal acid exposure was monitored via a portable receiver during 48 h.

Results

Seven men were excluded from the study: capsule dysfunction in 1 and oesophagitis in 6. Fifty subjects (25 M, 25 F, median age 42 years) were included in the study. The radio-transmitting capsule was successfully attached to the oesophageal mucosa in all cases and there were no complications. During pH monitoring 2 capsules were prematurely detached after 32 and 36 h, respectively. The median percentage time with oesophageal pH of less than 4 was 0.7% on day 1 and 1.0% on day 2 (p=0.033) and the 95th percentile for the 48-h recordings was 4.4%.

Conclusions

Ambulatory pH monitoring using the Bravo® system is feasible and appears to be safe. This is the first study to establish normal values for oesophageal acid exposure in a large age- and gender-matched healthy population and offers a basis for the use of the wireless technique in clinical practice.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.