NW ENT adopts Restech Dx-pH Measurement System to detect acid reflux in upper airway

The Restech Corporation announced that Northwest ENT & Allergy Center (NW ENT), Atlanta, GA, has adopted the Restech Dx-pH Measurement System to detect acid reflux in the airway. An alarming increase in the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) in Americans has led to the need for accurate diagnosis of acid reflux as provided by this system.

“This new technology is truly revolutionizing the way we diagnose and treat laryngopharyngeal reflux. It not only allows us to objectively diagnose and even quantify the disorder, but also to tailor an optimized treatment strategy. Prior to this, we were essentially guessing at the diagnosis. And equally important, the test is minimally invasive and very well-tolerated,” said Dr. Mark McClinton, an Otolaryngologist at NW ENT.

Patients are first seen by a NW ENT specialist. If an initial assessment indicates pathology consistent with LPR, testing using the Restech Dx- pH Measurement System may be recommended to determine whether laryngopharyngeal reflux is indeed present.

Restech Dx-pH Measurement System

The Restech Dx-pH Measurement System is a revolutionary system that comfortably measures pH in the airway. It had been difficult to detect such reflux in the upper airway because pH catheters were only able to measure liquid reflux in the esophagus and not the aerosolized form of stomach acid found in the larynx and throat.

Gastric reflux in the upper airway, or laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), commonly takes a gaseous form that cannot easily be measured using conventional technology. The miniaturized pH sensor at the tip of the Dx-pH Probe is the only sensor able to measure pH in this area. The Probe is 1.5mm in diameter and rests at a comfortable position behind the soft palate.

The first device capable of measuring pH in the throat in real-time, the Restech System sends measurements wirelessly to a small recording device carried by the patients during the testing period (about 24 hours). Upon completion of the study, the patient returns to have the probe removed and the study data analyzed by the physician. The results help determine the severity and timing of the patient’s reflux, enabling the physician to create a more effective, personalized treatment plan.