CAN ELECTRICAL-IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY BE USED TO DETECT GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX

A number of experiments have been carried out to investigate the feasi bility of using electrical impedance tomography as an alternative meth od for identifying gastro-oesophageal reflux. Five subjects have been studied using simultaneous EIT and intraoesophageal pH measurements. A refluxogenic meal was given during the course of the recording to ind uce reflux in the subjects. Results show that there is some change in conductivity in the stomach region during some of the reflux episodes, but EIT is not able to detect all of the pH changes associated with t he reflux. Other large conductivity changes, relating to gastric motil ity can be detected at times when no reflux is occurring.