Wireless esophageal pH monitoring is better tolerated than the catheter-based technique: results from a randomized cross-over trial.

OBJECTIVES

Esophageal pH monitoring using a wireless pH capsule has been suggested to generate less adverse symptoms resulting in improved patient acceptance compared with the catheter-based method although evidence to support this assumption is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the subjective experience of patients undergoing both techniques for esophageal pH monitoring.

METHODS

Using a randomized study design, patients referred for esophageal pH testing underwent both wireless and traditional catheter-based 24-h pH recording with a 7-day interval. The wireless pH capsule was placed during endoscopy and followed by 48-h pH recording. All patients answered a questionnaire, including a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS), which described the perceived severity of symptoms and the degree of interference with normal daily activities during the pH tests.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients, 16 women and 15 men, were included in the analysis. The severity of all adverse symptoms associated with the wireless technique was significantly lower compared with the catheter-based technique (median VAS 2.1 vs 5.1, P < 0.001). Wireless pH recording was associated with less interference with off-work activities and normal daily life, median VAS 0.6 and 0.7 compared with 5.0 and 5.7, respectively, for the catheter-based technique (P < 0.0001). Patients actively working during both tests reported less interference with normal work during the capsule-based test than during the catheter-based pH test (median VAS 0.3 vs 6.8, P= 0.005). Twenty-seven patients (87%) stated that, if they had to undergo esophageal pH monitoring again, they preferred the wireless test over the catheter-based pH test (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

This randomized study showed that a significant majority of patients undergoing esophageal pH monitoring preferred the wireless pH capsule over the traditional catheter-based technique because of less adverse symptoms and less interference with normal daily life.