engleski

Prolonged esophageal ph monitoring in the evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux in children with chronic tubotympanal disorders

Children with ear, nose and throat disorders are believed to have a high incidence of pathological gastroesophageal reflux. This study was designed to establish the frequency and ratio of pathological gastroesophageal reflux in the development of chronic tubotympanal disorders.27 children with chronic tubotympanal disorders mean ages 2 to13 (average age 6, 8) underwent 24 hour continuous pH monitoring. 14 of the examined patients suffered from secretory otitis while 13 patients suffered from recurrent otitis. From each pH monitoring 12-hour day time and night time periods was selected. 11 patients were tested for simultaneous dual pH monitoring (distal and proximal pH monitoring).15 (55, 6%) of 27 patients showed pathological gastroesophageal reflux. We did not find relation between pathological gastroesophageal reflux and different kinds of ear disorders. Day time pH monitoring yielded significantly more episodes of reflux than night time pH monitoring. Reflux index was substantially higher during day. In our study 6 out of 11 patients suffered from the pathological gastroesophageal reflux according to the distal pH monitoring, while the proximal pH monitoring showed only 3 pathological gastroesophageal reflux out of 11.The authors recommend that a pH study be performed in children with chronic tubotympanal disorders when faced with failure of the usual treatment. The method of choice for the diagnosis of pathological gastroesophageal reflux in patients with chronic tubotympanal disorders should be both pH monitoring of esophagus and throat.

gastroesophageal reflux; middle ear disease; auditory tube dysfunction

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