Added Value of pH Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance in Adults Operated for Esophageal Atresia.

BACKGROUND

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and dysphagia are common following repaired esophageal atresia (EA). The risk of esophagitis and Barrett esophagus is increased compared with the general population. As yet, the causes are not fully explained.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate how GER, measured by pH multichannel intraluminal impedance (pH-MII), is correlated to the esophageal symptoms and histological findings.

METHODS

Twenty-nine adult subjects operated for EA in Gothenburg from 1968 to 1983 were evaluated with pH-MII, manometry, and gastroscopy.

RESULTS

pH-MII was performed in 15, manometry in 19, and gastroscopy in 24 subjects. Eleven subjects displayed pathological reflux parameters of any kind, mainly nonacid reflux (10/15). Dysphagia correlated to the number of weakly acidic reflux episodes. Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) incompetence, which correlated to a pathological number of acid reflux episodes (p = 0.012), was noted in 21/24 subjects, but the majority had a normal resting pressure. Esophagitis was present in 14/24, two of whom had Barrett esophagus. Histological changes correlated to the reflux index and the number of weakly acidic reflux episodes (p = 0.028 and 0.040) and tended to correlate to dysphagia (p = 0.052).

CONCLUSION

pH-MII adds further information when it comes to explaining what causes symptoms and esophageal histological changes in adults operated for EA.