Esophageal multi-channel impedance and pH monitoring

It is the current gold standard for diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux (Gastric contents are aspirated into esohagus ). A catheter (flexible tube approximately 2 mm in diameter) which has a tip including 6 channels to measure the electrical resistance and which is sensitive to pH (acid) alterations is placed into the lower end of esophagusthrough nose. Outer tip of catheter is connected to a small computer. Differently from the esophageal pH monitoring, it can detect the non-acidic refluxes, in addition to the acidic refluxes. Its working principle is based on the relatively higher electrical conductivity of food or liquid compared to air in the event of leakage into esophagus. After recording, the catheter is removed and the data saved in the small computer are transferred to another computer and it is examined whether there is a leakage that would be considered as a disease. As more as the records are saved, more reliable results are obtained, so the procedure is performed on 24 hours a day in the unit. Since the operation cannot be performed without hospitalizing, the patient should stay at least an overnight. AN ALL-DAY VISITOR SHOULD STAY WITH THE PATIENT during hospitalization in order to keep certain records. The hard part of the operation is the first 20-30 seconds when the catheter is passed through the nose. Patient may feel nausea in the meanwhile. PATIENT SHOULD BE HUNGRY to prevent vomiting. You will be informed by your physician about the required period of fasting in accordance with the age of the child.