The key timing of pharyngeal reflux in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the incidence of pharyngeal reflux in laryngopharyngeal reflux patients over a 24-hour period and find out the key timing of pharyngeal reflux.

Methods: We reviewed 69 patients who visited our clinic with LPR-related symptoms and were proven to have pharyngeal reflux via 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (24hr MII-pH) monitoring. Quantitative analysis was conducted for the LPR profiles, such as the acidity of reflux, nighttime reflux, and positional reflux. The time series of pharyngeal reflux episodes and mealtimes were analyzed over a 24-hour period. Also, we recruited 26 normal controls. We compared the timing of pharyngeal reflux between LPR patients and asymptomatic controls.

Results: The quantitative analysis revealed that pharyngeal reflux occurred 4.88 ± 4.59 times over 24 hours. Weakly acidic pharyngeal reflux was more abundant than acidic or weakly alkaline reflux. Pharyngeal reflux occurred mainly during daytime in the upright position. The most frequent timing of pharyngeal reflux episodes was within 2 hours after meals. Additionally, there was no significant difference of the timing of post-prandial reflux between LPR patients and asymptomatic controls.

Conclusion: The key timing of pharyngeal reflux in patients with LPR was post-prandial 2 hours.

Keywords: 24-Hour Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance pH Monitoring; Laryngopharyngeal Reflux; Reflux Type.