Twenty-four-hour esophageal pH monitoring in children and adolescents with chronic and/or recurrent rhinosinusitis

Gastroesophageal reflux and chronic rhinosinusitis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are two common conditions which have been reported to occur together more frequently than expected. It has, therefore, been proposed that GERD may have an aetiologic role in CRS. This study reviews the results of research into the possible reflux and reflex mechanisms that may link CRS and GERD.

RECENT FINDINGS

Robust assessment of gastric reflux into the nasopharynx using circumferential pH probes which are less subject to artefact have demonstrated that direct reflux into the nasopharynx is a rare event. Pepsinogen has only been found in the nasal cavity in one study which had unexpected results, raising doubts about the validity of the methodology. A reflex increase in nasal congestion and mucus secretion has been demonstrated experimentally, but in a small number of patients, which precluded statistical significance. The relationship between reflux and mucus secretion is supported, though, by randomized controlled trials showing decreased postnasal drip with proton-pump inhibitor therapy.

SUMMARY

Recent evidence suggests that GERD does not play a causative role in CRS. However, there is evidence of an oesophageal-nasal reflex, particularly in regard to mucus secretion and symptoms of postnasal drip. The presence of GERD would, therefore, be expected to worsen nasal symptom scores.

ENT manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) has been associated with a variety of supraesophageal symptoms or diseases, including chronic cough, laryngeal disorders, rhinosinusitis, otitis media, and oral cavity lesions. In this article, we review the relationship between GER and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) symptoms. Data in the published literature are frequently conflicting. Only a few studies are controlled, and an evidence-based approach provides weak support for a causal association between GER and ENT manifestations. The GER diagnostic method should be standardized utilizing new parameters, and the definition and diagnostic accuracy of ENT pathologies also must be better specified. A firm connection remains controversial, and further randomized trials are needed.

The impact of extra-esophageal reflux upon diseases of the upper respiratory tract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The present paper examines the recent literature on extra-esophageal reflux and discusses how it affects patient testing and treatment of upper respiratory track inflammatory disease.

RECENT FINDINGS

Assays for pepsin have been developed casting more insight into the pathophysiology of extra-esophageal reflux as well as looking at the role of protective factors in upper respiratory mucosa. Similarities and differences in esophageal and extra-esophageal reflux continue to be explored. Acid suppression in extra-esophageal reflux improves symptoms before physical findings, but some patients do not respond. Mildly acidic (pH > 4) and alkaline reflux are being examined more in extra-esophageal reflux with impedance testing playing a more prominent role. Recent studies have also focused on whether extra-esophageal reflux could affect tissues of the nasopharynx, sinuses, or middle ear. Caution has been issued as acid suppressive therapies have been associated with hip fracture in older patients.

SUMMARY

Symptoms caused by reflux may reflect underlying weaknesses in mucosal resilience to acid and pepsin in addition to the variations in exposure to gastric contents. In some patients mildly acidic or alkaline reflux may be important and gastric contents may reach the nasopharynx or middle ear. Carefully designed placebo-controlled trials are needed.

Extra-esophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common medical condition affecting approximately 35-40% of the adult population in the western world. The role of GERD in causing extra-esophageal symptoms including laryngitis, asthma, cough, chest pain, and dental erosions is increasingly recognized with renewed interest among gastroenterologists and other specialists. Direct injury by mucosal contact, and vagally mediated reflex from distal esophageal acid exposure are the two possible mechanisms by which reflux-related extra-esophageal tissue injuries may occur. Several investigational techniques may be used to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux; however, because of the poor sensitivity of endoscopy and pH monitoring, and the poor specificity of laryngoscopy, empiric therapy with proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) is now considered the initial diagnostic step in patients suspected of having GERD-related symptoms. In those who improve with such therapy, it is likely that GERD may be the cause of the extra-esophageal presentation. In those who are unresponsive to such therapy, other diagnostic testing such as impedance/pH monitoring may be reasonable in order to exclude continued acid or weakly acid reflux. However, PPI-unresponsive patients usually have causes other than GERD for the extra-esophageal symptoms and signs.

Pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Pediatric acute and chronic rhinosinusitis are common pediatric ailments averaging six to eight occurrences a year with 0.5-5% of these progressing to acute sinusitis. A yet undefined number of children progress to chronic sinusitis. Significant resources are spent treating children for sinus infections that would otherwise clear on their own. Practice guidelines for chronic sinusitis are needed.

RECENT FINDINGS

Good prospective studies are lacking because of the shear numbers of patients that must be enrolled to obtain a homogeneous population for study. This lack of good prospective studies prevents the development of pediatric practice guidelines for medical and surgical management of chronic rhinosinusitis. Most recent studies focus primarily on pathophysiology and medical management. An area of significant knowledge deficit is the role of gastroesophageal reflux disease in chronic sinusitis. There have been no recent significant changes in the medical or surgical management of chronic rhinosinusitis other than the rationale of performing an adenoidectomy prior to endoscopic sinus surgery for eradication of biofilms.

SUMMARY

Current therapy for pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis continues to be prolonged courses of antibiotics and if the symptoms persist, staged surgical intervention with initial adenoidectomy followed by partial or anterior ethmoidectomy.

Diagnostic and management problems of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease in children

OBJECTIVE

Reflux is a common pediatric disorder and an association between reflux and otolaryngological conditions has been described. However, to prove a causal relationship a pathophysiological pathway must be identified, diagnostic test with high specificity and sensitivity must be developed and conservative or surgical treatment of reflux should be shown to predictably improve the otolaryngological problems. This review study aims at examining the available evidence for the above controversial issues.

METHODS

Articles on pediatric laryngopharyngeal reflux published in English during the last decade were searched using Ovid and PubMed.

RESULTS

A lack of consensus was found in four separate but interdependent areas: clinical manifestations, diagnostic testing, interpretation of findings and treatment. Although clinical experience and uncontrolled case series suggest that laryngopharyngeal reflux may possibly contribute to apnea, recurrent upper respiratory infections, laryngeal symptoms (mainly laryngomalacia and subglottic stenosis), sinusitis and otitis convincing data are lacking. For pediatric studies, the diagnostic role of pH monitoring, barium esophagram, scintigraphy, impedance monitoring, laryngoscopic examination, laryngeal biopsy and symptom assessment questionnaires remain to be defined. Interpretation of pharyngeal reflux events is controversial and the lack of established normative values as well as the existing variability in the diagnostic criteria (reflux definition, duration and number of pathological reflux events) limits the ability to directly compare results. Proposed laryngopharyngeal reflux treatment (lifestyle modification, medical or surgical therapy) is mostly empiric, with no significant placebo-controlled trials of treatment and outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Limited evidence exists to support a causative relationship between reflux and any otorhinolaryngological condition or the effectiveness of treatment. Epidemiological and large-scale prospective controlled studies are required to clarify these issues.