These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Diagnosis and management of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.
    Author: Divi V, Benninger MS.
    Journal: Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg; 2006 Jun; 14(3):124-7. PubMed ID: 16728886.
    Abstract:
    PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The recent findings and up-to-date practice guidelines for diagnosing, evaluating, and treating gastro-esophageal reflux disease are discussed. RECENT FINDINGS: The patient complaints for reflux disease are crucial in diagnosis. Although physical examination findings may correlate with laryngopharyngeal reflux, these findings may not improve after an adequate course of treatment. Behavioral modifications are a critical part of improving reflux; however, weight loss has not been shown to improve laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. Patients who used proton-pump inhibitors and histamine blockers were shown to have increased risk of developing Clostridium difficile infections. Laryngopharyngeal reflux has been shown to be a better predictor of Barrett's esophagus than gastroesophageal reflux, although specific screening recommendations have not been determined. SUMMARY: Current studies in laryngopharyngeal reflux demonstrate that improvements in physical examination findings are not a reliable way of determining patient improvement. An empiric trial of therapy is the best diagnostic test for laryngopharyngeal reflux. Future studies will examine the role of transnasal esophagoscopy in the screening of the laryngopharyngeal reflux patient for Barrett's esophagus.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]