35
Views
3
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Article

Automated oesophageal reflux sampler – a new device used to monitor bile acid reflux in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

, , &
Pages 1-9 | Published online: 09 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

A new automated suction device has been developed to aspirate the contents of the distal oesophagus to monitor the constituents of the refluxate in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Using antimony and glass electrodes with solid-state PH recorders it has been conclusively shown that gastric acid is responsible for the mucosal damage seen in reflux oesophagitis but new evidence is emerging that other constituents of the gastroduodenal juice, in particular bile acids, are also damaging to the oesophageal mucosa. The main difficulty lies in that there is no reliable method of monitoring this component of the refluxate except by direct aspiration of the contents for assay. This new technique of oesophageal sampling utilizing a software-controlled suction process with simultaneous PH recording has helped to identify patients at risk of refluxing potentially harmful substances and is a valuable addition to the armamentarium of investigative procedures for patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

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.