Diagnosis of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Is there a role for dynamic swallowing MRI in the assessment of gastroesophageal reflux disease and oesophageal motility disorders?

“…Patients with hiatal hernias were classified into two groups: hiatal hernias <3.5 cm (axial diameter) were graded as small, hernias ≥3.5 cm were graded as large [19]. The grade of hernia was correlated with the grade of reflux and with DeMeester's composite score [4,20].…”

“…A catheter with a monocrystalline antimony electrode and an integrated reference electrode (Zinetics 24, Synectics) was used for all pH studies, as described by Lenglinger et al [4]. DeMeester's composite score was used as a parameter for oesophageal acid exposure.…”

“…Pressures were recorded (PC-Polygraf, Synectics, Stockholm, Sweden) and data were transferred to a PC system and processed using dedicated software (Polygram, Synectics) [4]. Mean end-expiratory Lower Oesophageal Sphincter (LES) resting pressure and LES residual pressure upon swallowing were calculated using the data from ten swallows.…”

“…Many invasive and non-invasive techniques, such as endoscopy, manometry [3], 24-h pH-metry [4] and impedance measurements [5] are used for the objective evaluation of these problems, whereas endoscopy should initially be performed in patients with dysphagia to rule out malignancies [6]. The most common radiographic method is videofluoroscopy, which allows precise assessment of pharyngeal and oesophageal functions [7][8][9].…”

Laparoscopic partial posterior (Toupet) fundoplication improves esophageal bolus propagation on scintigraphy

“…Additional endoscopies were performed in any case of upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Esophagitis was graded according to the Savary-Miller classification system [14,15].…”