Request An Appointment
816-836-2200
Kansas City's Premiere Digestive Health Specialists
Request An Appointment
816-836-2200
Kansas City's Premiere Digestive Health Specialists
Sometimes if typical or atypical symptoms of GERD/heartburn occur, further evaluation is necessary if the standard treatments do not improve or resolve symptoms. Symptoms may include heartburn, chest pain, regurgitation, hoarseness or a chronic cough that continues despite aggressive treatment with acid-suppressing drugs.
Post-surgical patients who have had a hiatal hernia repair surgery and continue to have symptoms may need further evaluation.
Evaluation of the amount of acid entering the lower part of the esophagus is important for evaluation of symptoms and to determine if surgical treatment is advisable. The following methods of evaluation are currently available:
A spaghetti-thin wire flexible probe is inserted via your nose and placed just above the opening of the esophagus into the stomach. It is connected to a device/computer that you wear and it records all the data to be downloaded at a later time when you return the apparatus to the hospital.
A wireless device that is placed endoscopically in your esophagus and monitors the pH (acidity) of the esophagus and sends out the data via radio waves to a device that you wear at your side for 24-48 hours. The capsule is attached to the esophageal wall by a small post that is passed superficially into and through the superficial layer of the esophageal wall. It detaches itself in several days and is harmlessly passed in your stool. Please go to their website for further info on using this device.
Learn more about the Bravo Capsule.
This test is ordered to investigate swallowing difficulties or chest pain and to see if the esophageal muscle has a normal propagation wave (peristalsis), normal pressures of the esophageal contractions and to measure the important lower esophageal sphincter (valve) pressure.
This test is performed at the hospital (either Centerpoint Medical Center or North Kansas City Hospital) – a referral to an academic center (Kansas University) may be necessary if questions remain on diagnosis, managing or treating a condition.
