Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease management for recurrent laryngeal contact granuloma:A case report

BACKGROUND Laryngeal contact granuloma(LCG)is difficult to treat and frequently associated with high persistence and recurrence,despite the availability of both surgical and pharmacological treatment options.An appropriate strategy is therefore needed to help patients with multiple recurrences of LCG to potentially avoid unnecessary surgery.CASE SUMMARY We describe the case of a 34-year-old male patient with recurrent LCG in which a good response was achieved through successful management of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease using a combination pharmacotherapeutic regimen consisting of anti-reflux therapy,pepsin secretion inhibition,bile acid neutralization,and lifestyle modifications.This patient underwent surgery to excise the granuloma,then relapsed,underwent a second surgery,which was followed by a second recurrence.The granuloma then disappeared after 9 mo of combined treatment with ilaprazole enteric-coated capsules(10 mg qd),mosapride tablets(5 mg tid)and compound digestive enzyme capsules(2 tablets).The drug regimen was discontinued after one year,and no recurrence of the lesion has been reported during the one-year follow-up period.CONCLUSION We report a combination of pharmacotherapeutics and lifestyle modifications for the management of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease to address recurring LCG.

Esophageal Functional Changes in Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome and Their Impact on Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease

Background：Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome （OSAHS） and laryngopharyngeal reflux （LPR） disease have a high comorbidity rate,but the potential causal relation between the two diseases remains unclear.Our objectives were to investigate the esophageal functional changes in OSAHS patients and determine whether OSAHS affects LPR by affecting esophageal functions.Methods：Thirty-six OSAHS patients and 10 healthy controls underwent 24-h double-probed combined esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring simultaneously with polysomnography.High-resolution impedance manometry was applied to obtain a detailed evaluation of pharyngeal and esophageal motility.Results：There were 13 OSAHS patients （36.1%） without LPR （OSAHS group） and 23 （63.9%） with both OSAHS and LPR （OSAHS and LPR group）.Significant differences were found in the onset velocity of liquid swallows （OVL,P =0.029） and the percent relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter （LES） during viscous swallows （P =0.049） between the OSAHS and control groups.The percent relaxation of LES during viscous swallows was found to be negatively correlated with upright distal acid percent time （P =0.016,R =-0.507）,and OVL was found to be negatively correlated with recumbent distal acid percent time （P =0.006,R =-0.557） in the OSAHS and LPR group.Conclusions：OSAHS patients experience esophageal functional changes,and linear correlations were found between the changed esophageal functional parameters and reflux indicators,which might be the reason that LPR showed a high comorbidity with OSAHS and why the severity of the two diseases is correlated.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease, prevalence and clinical characteristics in ENT department of a tertiary hospital Tanzania

Background:Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease(LPRD)is a condition with nonspecific symptoms and most of times patients present late with advanced disease which may pre-dispose to malignancy.The magnitude and clinical characteristics of this condition are not well known among patients attending Otorhinolaryngology services in Tanzania.Materials and methods:This was a hospital based descriptive cross sectional study,conducted in the wards and clinics of Otorhinolaryngology department of Muhimbili National Hospital.Patients with symptoms of Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease were included in the study.Data was collected using questionnaires and clinical examination forms,were processed and analysed by using SPSS.Results presented in frequency tables,cross tabulations and figures.Results:This study recruited 256 participants among them males were 131(51.2%).The mean age was(41.38±13.94)years.Prevalence of Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease was 18.4%without gender predilection.The commonest symptoms were globus sensation,hoarseness of voice and excessive urge to clear the throat with 95.7%,88.1%and 83.0%respectively while the most observed signs were thick endolaryngeal mucus,Vocal cord oedema and partial ventricular obliteration with 90.9%,88.6%and 72.7%respectively.Lying down less than two hours after meal and spices foods consumption were the leading risk factors.Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus type 2 were the most prevalent co morbid conditions associated with Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.Conclusion:The prevalence of Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease is high among patients attending Otorhinolaryngology services at Muhimbili national hospital.All patients with Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease related symptoms should get thorough evaluation for early diagnosis and treatment.

Characteristic pathological findings and effects of ecabet sodium in rat reflux esophagitis

AIM： To explore the pathological findings in the entire esophagus in rats with reflux esophagitis, and the effects of ecabet sodium （ES）. METHODS： A rat model of chronic acid reflux esophagitis was used. In the treatment group, ES was administered after surgery （n = 16）. No drug was administered postoperatively to the esophagitis group （n = 9）. Shamoperated rats were used as a control group （n = 5）. Rats were sacrificed on day 7 after the operation. The epithelial thickness and leukocyte infiltration were examined in the upper, middle and lower areas of the esophagus. The survival rate, incidence of esophageal ulcer, and mean surface area and number of esophageal ulcers were determined in the esophagitis and ES groups. Esophageal histology was assessed in all three groups. RESULTS： Leukocyte infiltration in the esophagitis group was 26.3 ± 22.0 in the middle esophagus and 8.2 ± 4.9 in the upper esophagus, which was significantly greater than that in the controls （1.3 ± 1.1 and 1.4 ±1.0, respectively） （P 〈 0.05）. The thickness of the epithelium in the esophagitis group was 210.8 ± 47.7 μm in the lower esophagus and 204.2 ± 60.1 μm in the middle esophagus, which was significantly greater than that in the controls （26.0 ± 5.5 and 21.0 ± 6.5 μm, respectively） （P 〈 0.05）. The mean number of ulcers per animal in the ES group in the entire esophagus was 5.4 =1= 2.5, which was significantly less than that in the esophagitis group （9.0 ± 3.5） （P 〈 0.05）. The epithelial thickness in the ES group was 97.5 ± 32.2 μm in the lower esophagus, which was decreased compared with that in the esophagitis group （210.8 ± 47.7 μm） （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Mucosal inflammation extended to the upper esophagus close to the hypopharynx. Our study suggested that ES may have a useful defensive role in reflux esophagitis.

Software improvement for evaluation of laryngopharyngeal pH testing(Restech)——a comparison between Data View 3 and 4

BACKGROUND When gastroesophageal reflux contents reach above the upper esophageal sphincter,patients may,in addition to typical reflux symptoms,present with atypical,extraesophageal symptoms related to laryngopharyngeal reflux(LPR).Surgical treatment of LPR has shown to lead to 70%symptom improvement,however no gold standard for the diagnosis of LPR exists.In 2007,the Restech Dx-pH was released as a valid method to measure acid exposure above the upper esophageal sphincter.Recently,a new software update was introduced for analysis of measured pH data and calculation of composite scores.The effect of the changes applied to the new software version have not yet been analyzed.AIM To compare results generated by Data View 3 to the most recently released Data View 4.METHODS All patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms were seen in a specialized surgical outpatient clinic for gastrointestinal function testing.Retrospective chart review was performed of all patients presenting with suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease and extraesophageal reflux symptoms,who underwent laryngopharyngeal pH monitoring using the Restech Dx-pH system(Respiratory Technology Corp.,Houston,TX,United States)and simultaneous esophageal pH monitoring.Data View 3 and Data View 4 were used to evaluate Restech studies obtained.Diary entries such as mealtimes,supine and upright periods,and symptoms were entered manually to ensure accuracy and precise conversion of data between both software versions.Paired t test was performed for statistical analysis of results.RESULTS A total of 174 patients(63.8%female)met inclusion criteria,all suffering from extraesophageal reflux symptoms as well as typical gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms.Mean RYAN score upright was 48.77 in Data View 3 compared to 22.17 in Data View 4,showing a significant difference(~aP=0.0001).Similar results were shown for supine period(mean RYAN Score Data View 35.29 vs 1.42 in Data View 4,~cP=0.0001).For upright periods 80 patients showed a decrease of value of the RYAN score with a mean of-58.9(mean 51.1%decrease).For supine position 25 patients showed a decrease of value of the RYAN score with a mean of-15.13[range(-153.44)–(-0.01)],which equals a mean decrease of value of 44.5%.Ten patients showed no oropharyngeal acid exposure in Data View 3,but mild/moderate(n=7)or severe(n=3)acid exposure in Data View 4.Correlation with positive esophageal pH measurement was improved in all 10 patients.CONCLUSION Results of both software versions cannot be compared to each other.However,our data suggests that Data View 4 may be an improvement of the Restech pH measurement in the evaluation of LPR.