Positioning of the ph-Probe by Manometry or Radiography for monitoring of the esophagus

Purpose:  To correlate gastroesophageal reflux (GER), demonstrated by radiography using bread and barium, with 24-h pH monitoring in the esophagus, with the pH-probe positioned by manometry or radiology. Material and Methods:  In all, 146 patients, 41 females and 105 males, with a median age of 47 years, suspected of GER were examined. Radiography was performed with the patient in the supine right oblique position during mastication and swallowing a piece of rye bread with liver pâte and barium. The test was positive if barium was observed more than 5 cm proximal to the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). An antimony pH-probe was placed 5 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter determined by manometry, or 5 cm above the GEJ determined by radiography. The total time of esophageal pH < 4 exceeding 5% was considered pathological. Results:  The radiological method had a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 52% compared to 24-h pH monitoring with the pH-probe positioned manometrically, and a specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 67% with the pH-probe positioned by radiography, with no significant difference between the two positionings. Conclusion:  In 146 patients submitted to 24-h pH monitoring, the pH-probe could be placed as safely by radiography as by manometry.