Aerophagia: excessive air swallowing demonstrated by esophageal impedance monitoring.
OBJECTIVE
Patients with aerophagia suffer from the presence of an excessive volume of intestinal gas, which is thought to result from excessive air ingestion. However, this has not been shown thus far. The aim of this study was therefore to assess swallowing and air swallowing frequencies in patients with suspected aerophagia.


METHODS
Ambulatory 24-hour pH-impedance monitoring was performed in patients in whom excessive amounts of intestinal gas were visualized on plain abdominal radiograms. All patients had symptoms of bloating, abdominal distention, flatulence, or excessive belching. Reflux parameters and the number of swallows and air swallows were assessed.


RESULTS
The most common symptoms were bloating, abdominal distention, and constipation. Only 3 patients reported excessive belching and 1 patient reported flatulence as their predominant symptom. During the 24-hour measurement, patients showed high incidences of air swallows (521 +/- 63) and gastric belches (126 +/- 37). Patients had normal swallowing frequency (741 +/- 71).


CONCLUSIONS
This study presents objective parameters that confirm the existence of excessive air swallowing or aerophagia using esophageal impedance monitoring.
Hemmink
Gerrit J M
GJ
Department of Gastroenterology, Sint Antonius Hospital, PO Box 2500, 3430 EM Nieuwegein, The Netherlands. m.hemmink@antoniusziekenhuis.nl
Weusten
Bas L A M
BL
Bredenoord
Albert J
AJ
Timmer
Robin
R
Smout
André J P M
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000334:Aerophagy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000818:Animals; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal