Acid and reflux measurement in the esophagus
(24-hour pH-metry and impedance measurement)If patients suffer from frequent heartburn and reflux disease is suspected, 24-hour pH metry is available for diagnosis. A small probe measures for a whole day whether and how much stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus. Alongside gastroscopy, pH-metry is the most common procedure for diagnosing heartburn.
Normally, acid values below pH 4 are only occasionally measured in the oesophagus. If these values occur over a longer period of time, they are pathological. During the examination, the reflux of fluid into the oesophagus can be determined at the same time by measuring resistance (impedance measurement).
The 24-hour pH measurement is carried out using a probe inserted into the oesophagus via the nose, which is connected to a small recorder. Patients wear the recorder on their body, for example on a belt. They can go about their daily routine as normal. The measuring catheter is removed again after 24 hours.
Before the examination
Six hours before the examination, patients are not allowed to eat, drink or smoke. Medication, especially acid blockers such as omeprazole, should also only be taken after consultation with the physician. As a rule, the measurements are carried out without taking acid-inhibiting medication.
After the examination
If you have had a throat anaesthetic or a sedative injection or short anaesthetic, you must not eat for at least one hour after the anaesthetic. After that, you can eat normally - despite the feeding tube. The day after the measuring instrument has been inserted, you must return the recording device and the probe to us.