title: Wireless capsule pH monitoring: does it fulfil all expectations?
abstract: pH monitoring has been used as a diagnostic tool in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for many years. Recent studies have shown that wireless capsule pH monitoring is better tolerated and interferes less with daily activities as compared to traditional catheter-based pH monitoring. Moreover, prolonged recording time (48 h instead of 24 h) is possible with wireless pH monitoring. The main secondary effect of wireless capsule pH monitoring is induction of thoracic discomfort in 10-65% of the patients, which can vary from mild foreign body sensation to severe chest pain. Sensitivity and specificity of wireless capsule monitoring is comparable to that of traditional pH monitoring. It has not been proven yet that better tolerability and a longer recording time increases the diagnostic yield of wireless capsule monitoring in GERD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland. philippe.maerten@chuv.ch
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maerten
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ortner
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michetti
authors.forename: Gian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dorta
mesh_terms: D050782:Esophageal pH Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans