Solid versus liquid pulmonary micro-aspiration of reflux disease. Does it make a difference in determining the need for intervention?

Background: Pulmonary micro-aspiration (PMA) is a feared complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD). A novel scintigraphic test for GORD has been developed and validated. It can demonstrate contamination of the upper and lower airways by refluxate.

Scintigraphic Imaging of Extra-Esophageal Manifestation of Gastresophageal Reflux Disease.

Objectives: There is currently no reference standard test for the detection of the extra-esophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The current suite of diagnostic tests principally assesses reflux events in the esophagus. A new scintigraphic technique has been developed and validated against reference standards.

Clinicopathologic and survival differences between adenocarcinoma of the distal oesophagus and gastro-oesophageal junction.

Background: The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the distal oesophagus (DO) and gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ) are increasing. They may represent differing disease processes. This study aimed to assess clinicopathological and survival differences between patients with DO and GOJ adenocarcinomas.

Different clinical symptom patterns in patients with reflux micro-aspiration.

Background: Pulmonary manifestation of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a well-recognised entity; however, little primary reported data exists on presenting symptoms of patients in whom reflux micro-aspiration is confirmed. The aim of this study is to report symptoms and presenting patterns of a large group of patients with confirmed reflux micro-aspiration.

Patients And Methods: Data was extracted from a prospectively populated database of patients referred to a tertiary specialist centre with severe, refractory or atypical reflux.

Failed fundoplication with delayed gastric emptying: efficacy of subtotal gastrectomy.

Background: The management of patients with gastroparesis and recurrent reflux after previous fundoplication is challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of subtotal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction as a remedial procedure in this select patient population.

Method: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively populated database identified all patients that underwent subtotal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction (SGRNY) due to reflux symptoms and delayed gastric emptying (DGE).

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma: In the era of extended lymphadenectomy, is the value of neoadjuvant therapy being attenuated?

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and oesophagectomy is the standard of care for resectable oesophageal adenocarcinomas. Survival outcomes following resection have been improving over time while NACT remain largely unchanged. Indeed, a recent meta-analysis of randomized control trials did not demonstrate a survival benefit in adding NACT, raising the possibility that improved surgical techniques may be reducing the perceived effectiveness of NACT.

Post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave is impaired in laryngopharyngeal and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Introduction: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) result from the reflux of gastric contents. The post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave (PSPW) is an oesophageal reflex that facilitates chemical clearance of gastric contents following reflux events. PSPW index is a novel parameter that has been validated in assessing the effectiveness of chemical clearance in GORD, but not in LPR.

Conventional and simple methods of measuring esophageal nocturnal baseline impedance show excellent agreement.

Objectives: Mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) shows promise in investigating reflux disease by reflecting esophageal mucosal integrity. This study aimed to measure MNBI by both conventional and simple methods in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in order to evaluate the efficacy of the simple measurement method.

Methods: Altogether 187 patients were divided into LPR (n = 105) or GERD (n = 82) groups according to their predominant symptom profile, and underwent off-therapy impedance-pH monitoring.

Modified Reflux Scintigraphy Detects Pulmonary Microaspiration in Severe Gastro-Esophageal and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease.

Introduction: Previously described methodologies for detecting laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) have limitations. Symptoms alone are non-diagnostic, and pH-impedance studies have poor sensitivity. Pulmonary micro-aspiration is under-recognised in LPR and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD).

A new diagnostic paradigm for laryngopharyngeal reflux disease: correlation of impedance-pH monitoring and digital reflux scintigraphy results.

Purpose: No gold-standard investigation exists for laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII)-pH testing has uncertain utility in LPR. Meanwhile, reflux scintigraphy allows immediate and delayed visualisation of tracer reflux in the esophagus, pharynx, and lungs.

Reflux Aspiration Associated with Oesophageal Dysmotility but Not Delayed Liquid Gastric Emptying.

Introduction: Severe oesophageal dysmotility is associated with treatment-resistant reflux and pulmonary reflux aspiration. Delayed solid gastric emptying has been associated with oesophageal dysmotility; however, the role of delayed liquid gastric emptying (LGE) in the pathophysiology of severe reflux disease remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between delayed LGE, reflux aspiration, and oesophageal dysmotility.

Does age affect oesophagectomy survival: a cohort study.

Background: Curative oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer is associated with considerable potential mortality. Surgeons are increasingly treating older patients presenting with oesophageal cancer as the population ages. The question remains as to the survival in an older population group, many of whom are not fit for combined multimodal therapy.

Findings from a novel scintigraphic gastroesophageal reflux study in asymptomatic volunteers.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common and growing problem in most western countries. It may present with the typical symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation or with the effects of extra-esophageal disease. We have developed and validated a scintigraphic test that evaluates reflux at both sites in patients at high risk of laryngopharyngeal reflux and lung aspiration.

A transformational change in scintigraphic gastroesophageal reflux studies: A comparison with historic techniques.

Background: The inclusion of scintigraphy in the diagnostic algorithm for gastroesophageal reflux is controversial due to variability in methodology and reporting. A novel scintigraphic reflux study has been developed and validated against the current standards for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

Objective: To compare a new scintigraphic reflux test against historic techniques and standardised diagnostic reference tests for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The burden of gastroesophageal reflux disease on the cost of managing chronic diseases in Australia. The need for a new diagnostic and management paradigm.

Introduction: Chronic disease poses a major problem for the Australian healthcare system as the leading cost-burden and cause of death. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) typifies the problems with a growing prevalence and cost. We hypothesise that a scintigraphic test could optimise the diagnosis, especially in problematic extraoesophageal disease.

Fungal Pneumonia in The Immunocompetent Host: A Possible Statistical Connection Between Allergic Fungal Sinusitis with Polyposis and Recurrent Pulmonary Infection Detected by Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Scintigraphy.

Objectives: Fungal pneumonia in the immune competent host is a rarity with few reported cases in the literature. We present a series of 7 cases of recurrent fungal pneumonia in association with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We hypothesised that recurrent infection may have been transported from the infected paranasal sinuses into the lung by GERD as the process was terminated by surgical fundoplication in 2 of these patients.

Predictors of reflux aspiration and laryngo-pharyngeal reflux.

Background: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) can present with typical or atypical or laryngo-pharyngeal reflux (LPR) symptoms. Pulmonary aspiration of gastric refluxate is one of the most serious variants of reflux disease as its complications are difficult to diagnose and treat. The aim of this study was to establish predictors of pulmonary aspiration and LPR symptoms.

Esophageal Clearance in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease: Correlation of Reflux Scintigraphy and 24-hour Impedance/pH in a Cohort of Refractory Symptomatic Patients.

Objectives: The role of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the aetiology of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is poorly understood and remains a controversial issue. The 24-hour impedance monitoring has shown promise in the evaluation of LPR but is problematic in pharyngeal recording. We have shown the utility of scintigraphic studies in the detection of LPR and lung aspiration of refluxate.

Benchmarking of a Simple Scintigraphic Test for Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease That Assesses Oesophageal Disease and Its Pulmonary Complications.

Objectives: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is both common and troubling with a prevalence of 20-40%. We assessed the utility of a scintigraphic reflux study to evaluate the oesophageal and extra-oesophageal manifestation of disease compared to the standard tests such as pH monitoring and manometry.

Methods: Patients were recruited into a prospective database of referrals to a tertiary referral center for either resistance to maximal medical therapy or extra-oesophageal symptoms of GORD.

What's Old Is New Again: The Sacroiliac Joint as a Cause of Lateralizing Low Back Pain.

It has not been easy to identify mechanical failure of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) with traditional imaging. The integrated model of function (Lee and Vleeming, 1998) suggests that under normal circumstances, form and force closure combined contribute to sacral nutation and "locking" the SIJ for optimal load transfer. This model is supported by clinical evidence and scintigraphic findings that contribute to successful therapy in 80% of cases.

Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux and Aspiration: Does Laparoscopic Fundoplication Significantly Decrease Pulmonary Aspiration?

Purpose: Pulmonary aspiration of gastric refluxate is one of the indications for anti-reflux surgery. Effectiveness of surgery in preventing pulmonary aspiration post-operatively has not been previously tested. The aim of this project is to assess effectiveness of anti-reflux surgery on preventing pulmonary aspiration of gastric refluxate.