Wireless Ambulatory Esophageal pH Monitoring in Dogs with Clinical Signs Interpreted as Gastroesophageal Reflux. (30th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kook, P.H.; Kempf, J.; Ruetten, M.; Reusch, C.E.
• Is Part Of: Journal of veterinary internal medicine. Volume 28:Number 6(2014:Nov./Dec.)
• Page Start: 1716
• Page End: 1723
• Publication Date: 2014-09-30
• Subjects: Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; 636.0896
• DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12461
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-6640

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jvim12461-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jvim12461-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Although gastroesophageal reflux (GER) often is assumed to be causative for upper gastrointestinal and respiratory signs in dogs, no attempts have been made to verify this assumption.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12461-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To monitor esophageal pH with the Bravo pH system in healthy dogs and client‐owned dogs displaying signs commonly attributed to GER.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12461-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Animals</title> <p>Seven healthy and 22 client‐owned dogs.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12461-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>After routine esophagogastroduodenoscopy, radiotelemetric pH capsules were placed in distal esophagus for continuous pH recording. Reflux was defined as single pH measurement <4. At discharge, owners were instructed to press individually predefined clinical sign‐buttons on the receiver whenever indicated. Results between groups were compared using Mann–Whitney <italic>U</italic>‐test.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12461-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The median (range) number of refluxes in client‐owned and healthy dogs, respectively, was 17 (1–205) and 10 (1–65), the number of refluxes >5 minutes in duration was 1 (0–14), and 1 (0–4), duration of longest reflux (min) was 10 (0–65) and 8 (0–27), and fractional time pH <4 (%) was 0.76% (0.01–6.28), and 0.3% (0–3.1). No differences were found between groups. The median of 7 (1–35) clinical sign‐button pushes were recorded in 21 dogs. Median of 12.5% (2.8% [1/35]–50% [2/4]) reflux‐positive clinical sign‐button pushes was found in 10 dogs with reflux‐positive pushes. Five (22.7%) dogs had increased esophageal acid exposure, and mild esophagitis was noted in 1 dog.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12461-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion and Clinical Importance</title> <p>Despite evidence of increased GER in some dogs, the clinical sign‐reflux association remained poor. Future investigation should focus on dogs with esophagitis.</p> </sec> </abstract>