Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Simultaneous Laryngopharyngeal and Conventional Esophageal pH Monitoring
Published on: December 14, 2020
Air swallowing, belching, acid and non-acid reflux in patients with functional dyspepsia
J M Conchillo1, M Selimah, A J Bredenoord
1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. jconchillo@hotmail.com
Background:
Frequent belching is a common symptom in patients with functional dyspepsia with a reported incidence up to 80%. We hypothesized that patients with functional dyspepsia possibly have a higher frequency of belching than healthy subjects secondary to frequent air swallowing.
Aim:
To assess air swallowing, belching, acid and non-acid reflux patterns of patients with functional dyspepsia.
Methods:
Combined 24-h oesophageal impedance and pH monitoring was performed in 10 functional dyspepsia patients and 10 controls. Analysis of the impedance-pH signals included incidence of air swallows, belching, acid and non-acid reflux.
Results:
The incidence of air swallows in functional dyspepsia patients were significantly higher compared with controls (153 +/- 15 vs. 79 +/- 10, P < 0.001), while the incidence of liquid-only swallows were not significantly increased. The proportions of gas-containing reflux episodes (belches) and non-acid reflux episodes in functional dyspepsia patients were significantly higher when compared with controls (66.4 vs. 44.4%, P = 0.04 and 70.1 vs. 45.9%, P = 0.009, respectively).
Conclusion:
Patients with functional dyspepsia swallow air more frequently than controls and this is associated with an increased incidence of non-acid gaseous gastro-oesophageal reflux.
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