Esophageal pH monitoring

A thin tube is passed through your nose or mouth to your stomach. The tube is then pulled back into your esophagus. A monitor attached to the tube measures the acid level (pH) in your esophagus. You will wear the monitor on a strap and record your symptoms and activities over the next 24 hours in a diary. You will…

Your health care provider will ask you to not eat or drink after midnight before the test. You should also avoid smoking. Some medicines may change the test results. Your provider may ask you to not take these for between 24 hours and 2 weeks (or more) before the test. You also may be told to avoid alcohol. Medicines…

You briefly feel like gagging as the tube is passed through your throat. The Bravo pH monitor causes no discomfort.

Esophageal pH monitoring is used to check how much stomach acid is entering the esophagus. It also checks how well the acid is cleared downward into the stomach. It is a test for gastroesophageal reflux disease ( GERD ). In infants, this test is also used to check for GERD and other problems related to excessive…

Normal value ranges may vary depending on the lab doing the test. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

Increased acid in the esophagus may be related to: Barrett esophagus Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) Esophageal scarring Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Heartburn Reflux esophagitis You may need to have the following tests if your provider suspects esophagitis : Barium swallow Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (also…

Rarely, the following may occur: Arrhythmias during insertion of the tube Breathing in of vomit if the catheter causes vomiting

Falk GW, Katzka DA. Diseases of the esophagus. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 129. Kavitt RT, Vaezi MF. Diseases of the esophagus. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed.…