Lipid laden macrophage indices and reflux finding score in canine gastroesophageal reflux model.
Laryngeal exposure to acid and aspiration of gastric contents may lead to severe respiratory disorders. This study utilizes the canine model of Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) to identify whether lower esophageal dysfunction is associated with upper and lower airway pathology.


METHODS
Five mongrel dogs underwent GER-creating surgery (partial cardiomyectomy). Laryngeal reflux finding score (RFS), lipid-laden macrophage index (LLMI) and BAL fluid cell differential were obtained before and after surgery.


RESULTS
Partial cardiomyectomy in dogs significantly increased the Reflux index (RI) from 0.38 +/- 0.21% to 7.56 +/- 2.89% (P = 0.048), the duration of the longest reflux episode (DLRE) from 1.22 +/- 1.19 min to 66.2 +/- 42.03 min postoperatively (P = 0.049) and the total number of episodes in 24 hr from 2.06 +/- 1.03 to a postoperative value of 19.24 +/- 4.79. There was no statistically significant change in values for RFS, LLMI, and BAL fluid cell differential after the induction of GER.


CONCLUSIONS
Acid reflux to the proximal esophagus of this animal model did not cause laryngeal exposure to acid or aspiration of gastric content. The results of this study suggest that presence of GER, secondary to lower esophageal dysfunction is not necessarily associated with upper and lower airway pathology.
Nino
Gustavo
G
Maimonides Infants and Children's Hospital, Brooklyn, New York 11219, USA.
Savchenko
Oleg
O
Vastola
Paul
P
Pagala
Murali
M
Dhadwal
Ajay K
AK
Vaynblat
Mikhail
M
Marcus
Michael
M
Kazachkov
Mikhail
M
D000818:Animals; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D004947:Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007827:Laryngitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D008055:Lipids