Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: Diagnosis, Treatment and Latest Research
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Review Eur Surg DOI 10.1007/s10353-016-0385-5 Laryngopharyngeal reflux: diagnosis, treatment and latest research G. L. Falk1,2,3 · S. J. Vivian4 Received: 13 December 2015 / Accepted: 13 January 2016 © Springer-Verlag Wien 2016 Summary Aim Aim A review of the recent changes in understand- ing of laryngopharyngeal and extra-oesophageal reflux Review the recent changes in the evaluation of cause, symptoms. investigation and therapy in the evolving area of extra- Method Literature search over 7 years (2008–2015) oesophageal symptoms of reflux disease. and relevant historical cited articles. Results Modern investigation more clearly shows a subgroup of patients with intermittent full column Method oesophago-gastric-reflux-causing symptoms. Multiple other sites in the lung, head and neck may also be impli- Ongoing review of the literature has been pursued by the cated in the reflux disease process. senior author (GLF) of PubMed and the National Centre Conclusion Understanding of extra-oesophageal for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the National reflux symptomology is evolving. New equipment and Library of Medicine (NLM). Search was conducted techniques suggest further areas of research, and as yet monthly using (“laryngopharyngeal reflux”[MeSH] OR effective therapy remains elusive for some. LARYNGOPHARYNGEAL REFLUX[Title/Abstract]) OR ((COUGH[Title/Abstract] OR “cough”[MeSH]) AND Keywords Laryngopharyngeal reflux · (“gastroesophageal reflux”[MeSH] OR “GASTROESOPH- Gastro-oesophageal reflux · AGEAL REFLUX”[Title/Abstract] OR “GASTROOESOPH- Laparoscopic fundoplication AGEAL REFLUX”[Title/Abstract] OR “gastroesophageal reflux”[MeSH Terms] OR REFLUX[Title/Abstract])) for the years 2008–2015. Relevant articles were extracted pro- gressively and topics searched on PubMed as required from 2008 onward. Further searches were conducted for (GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX[MESH] OR LARYN- G. L. Falk, MBBS, FRACS () GOPHARYNGEAL REFLUX[MESH] OR REFLUX) AND Suite 29, 12-18 Tryon Rd, IMPEDANCE and (“Barrett Esophagus”[MAJR] AND NSW 2070 Lindfield, Australia DYSPLASIA) OR (“Barrett’s dysplasia”) OR (Barrett*[ti] e-mail: [email protected] AND DYSPLASIA[ti]). G. L. Falk, MBBS, FRACS Bibliographies of multiple articles contained further University of Sydney, article references from earlier years and have been uti- Sydney, Australia lised selectively in discussion. The references were then G. L. Falk, MBBS, FRACS utilised to elucidate the multiple topics addressed in the Macquarie University, review. Criteria for selection were relevance, English lan- Sydney, Australia guage, and publication in reputable peer-reviewed jour- nals unless of substantial significance. S. J. Vivian, BA Sydney Heartburn Clinic, Lindfield, Australia e-mail: [email protected] 1 3 Laryngopharyngeal reflux: diagnosis, treatment and latest research 1 Review The spectrum of gastro-oesophageal reflux Pathophysiology disease The anomalousness of reflux disease hinges around the Reflux disease, in its various forms, affects a large group abnormal frequency or duration of exposure to gastric of society. Typical gastro-oesophageal reflux disease contents within the tubular oesophagus. There is a bal- (GORD) affects at least 10 % of individuals in Western ance between mucosal attack and the mucosal defences society [1]. And it has been estimated that about 10 % of and between clearance of the oesophagus and frequency, ear, nose and throat specialty (ENT) workload reflects volume and concentration of reflux fluid. In lesser cases possible atypical reflux patients [2]. While typical reflux of reflux disease, transient lower oesophageal sphincter disease has long been relatively easy to diagnose both relaxation occurs (TLOSR) [6] and the trans-diaphrag- symptomatically and on testing, extra-oesophageal dis- matic pressure gradient allows fluid to pass upwards into ease is still not adequately diagnosed, and treatment is the oesophagus to be cleared by secondary peristalsis. fraught. Further, it is recognised there is a lack of a gold Should the gradient be great, such as in chronic pulmo- standard diagnostic test ([3], p. 37). There are limita- nary disease or obesity, reflux may be increased. Delayed tions in the diagnostic equipment and physiological gastric emptying in the reflux patient is frequent and may understanding of the illness, and the symptoms are non- exacerbate reflux exposure. Peristalsis may be deficient specific. Unsurprisingly, surgery for laryngopharyngeal [7, 8] and the oesophagus not clear normally. Muco- reflux (LPR) has been dogged by poor results in con- sal resistance may be diminished such as in patients tradistinction to the good results obtained in refractory on prostaglandin inhibitors, chemotherapy, steroids or standard reflux disease. This review attempts to deal with having a chronic medical illness. Loss of tight junction some matters of standard reflux disease and surgery as integrity may play a role in symptomatology [9–11]. More well as the pathophysiology and management of LPR. severe disease may become evident with the presence of a hiatus hernia [12] and absolute reduction in the lower oesophageal sphincter tone [13, 14] with increasing lev- Symptoms els of reflux fluid within the oesophagus and increasing levels of oesophagitis evident at endoscopy [15]. The Montréal criteria largely recognises GORD by cardi- nal symptoms of heartburn and fluid regurgitation, usu- ally considered more than once or twice per week [4]. Complications The Montréal definition also recognises atypical or extra- oesophageal reflux disease where symptoms merge into Oesophagitis and the oesophageal ulceration are com- the laryngopharynx, nasopharynx and lung and dental plications of reflux of gastric content. Continued inflam- erosion. Even this distinction is not simple; water brash mation may lead to the development of scarring and (the phenomenon of increased salivation) is often misin- strictures, deep ulceration and haemorrhage, inhalation terpreted by clinicians, and post nasal drip syndrome is of gastric contents causing aspiration pneumonia and the confusing to patient and clinician. Severe standard reflux development of Barrett’s oesophagus and subsequent can be associated with LPR symptoms and pulmonary risk of carcinoma. Barrett’s mucosa may pass through aspiration and usually reflects severe disease often in the the typical metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence. supine position with gross flooding of the oesophagus. The risk of reflux causing carcinoma has been well rec- This is quite different from LPR disease where heartburn ognised especially demonstrated in a seminal article by and regurgitation are “silent” or less prominent. Alarm Lagergren et al. where the duration and severity of symp- symptoms such as the dysphagia or odynophagia (pain toms was positively associated with increasing rates of on swallowing), anaemia, haematemesis or weight loss oesophageal adenocarcinoma (Figs. 1, 2; [16]). must be identified expeditiously to exclude the onset of malignant complication. Diagnosis Typical gastro-oesophageal reflux disease Historically, the diagnosis of reflux disease has largely been based on the symptoms of heartburn and regurgita- This condition is largely identified by the presence of tion. The response to therapy has been measured against symptomatology of heartburn and regurgitation and control of these symptoms. Symptomatic diagnosis con- occasional dysphagia in the presence of oesophagitis. tinues to be the recommendation of most gastroenter- It is recognised that 15–20 % of the adult population in ology societies probably due to the lack of sensitivity of Australia will suffer heartburn more than once per week endoscopy to diagnosis [17]. This recommendation con- [5]. This is similar to studies from the USA and one would tinues despite good study (the Diamond Study) showing expect throughout the Western world [1]. The burden of a sensitivity and specificity of the symptomatic diagnosis disease in the community is therefore quite substantial. of GORD of 62 and 67 %, respectively [18]. Objective diagnosis has hinged around performance of endoscopy or response to proton pump inhibitor 2 Laryngopharyngeal reflux: diagnosis, treatment and latest research 1 3 Review Fig. 1 Columnar lined oesophagus under narrow band im- Fig. 3 HALO 90 radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for endoscopic aging: biopsies showed no dysplasia. CLE columnar lined treatment, as described in the text oesophagus only about 9 % of patients are diagnosable by endoscopy once PPI is commenced. Its use is therefore largely for the exclusion of alternative diagnosis. A positive diagno- sis of reflux can be made before treatment in up to 50 % of patients by mucosal change. To these indications for endoscopy, one could add male sex, age over 40, change in symptomatology and length and severity of symptoms possibly predictive of the development of carcinoma [16]. The rate of adenocarcinoma of the lower oesopha- gus is increasing in Western civilisation [20, 21]. Surveillance of patients identified with Barrett’s oesophagus is frequently recommended [5]. It is there- fore worthwhile identifying the presence of Barrett’s oesophagus for purposes of prevention of dysplasia or carcinoma development. Radiofrequency ablation man- agement by endoscopy has proven safe and effective for dysplasia in expert groups [22–24]. Guidelines for man- agement of Barrett’s dysplasia and superficial carcinoma Fig. 2 Hemicircumferential polypoid tumour lower oesopha- are published (Fig. 3; [25–27]).