Reflux-associated oxygen desaturations: usefulness in diagnosing reflux-related respiratory symptoms
Candice L Wilshire1, Renato Salvador, Boris Sepesi
1Division of Thoracic and Foregut Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box SURG, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
Background:
Current diagnostic techniques establishing gastroesophageal reflux disease as the underlying cause in patients with respiratory symptoms are poor. Our aim was to provide additional support to our prior studies suggesting that the association between reflux events and oxygen desaturations may be a useful discriminatory test in patients presenting with primary respiratory symptoms suspected of having gastroesophageal reflux as the etiology.
Methods:
Thirty-seven patients with respiratory symptoms, 26 with typical symptoms, and 40 control subjects underwent simultaneous 24-h impedance-pH and pulse oximetry monitoring. Eight patients returned for post-fundoplication studies.
Results:
The median number (interquartile range) of distal reflux events associated with oxygen desaturation was greater in patients with respiratory symptoms (17 (9-23)) than those with typical symptoms (7 (4-11, p < 0.001)) or control subjects (3 (2-6, p < 0.001)). A similar relationship was found for the number of proximal reflux-associated desaturations. Repeat study in seven post-fundoplication patients showed marked improvement, with reflux-associated desaturations approaching those of control subjects in five patients; 20 (9-20) distal preoperative versus 3 (0-5, p = 0.06) postoperative; similar results were identified proximally.
Conclusions:
These data provide further proof that reflux-associated oxygen desaturations may discriminate patients presenting with primary respiratory symptoms as being due to reflux and may respond to antireflux surgery.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Acute Respiratory Failure-IV
01:19Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...
01:23Assessment of Respiration
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD,...
01:27Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection
Chest Configuration
The chest configuration can...
01:29Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
01:30Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...