Evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux in patients with laryngotracheal stenosis

To report the incidence of pharyngeal acid reflux events in patients with l aryngotracheal stenosis (LTS), we studied 12 patients with LTS and 34 healt hy volunteers. All patients and controls underwent ambulatory 24-hour 3-sit e pH monitoring. In ambulatory pH monitoring, pH was recorded at manometric ally determined sites of the pharynx, proximal esophagus, and distal esopha gus. For all 3 sites, a pH value below 4 that was not related to the time o f oral intake or belching was considered an acid reflux event. Eight of the 12 LTS patients exhibited pharyngeal acid reflux events. In the control gr oup, pharyngeal acid reflux events were documented in 7 subjects. In betwee n-group comparison, the number of reflux episodes and the percent acid expo sure time in the pharynx were greater in LTS patients than in controls. Ref lux parameters of the proximal and distal esophagus in LTS patients were si milar to those of controls. The incidence of pharyngeal acid reflux events in LTS patients was higher than that in controls. It is suggested that iden tification and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux in patients will signif icantly simplify and improve the results of treatment for LTS.