The accuracy of intraesophageal pH monitoring will improve as longer monitoring periods become the norm with increased battery capacity of these devices. Furthermore, the patient acceptance of this technique will become substantially better with the tubeless "capsule" systems that are becoming increasingly available. However, the real advance in physiologic testing of the GERD patient will likely come with improvements in and increased availability of esophageal impedance testing.1 Impedance testing not only detects acid reflux events but also detects nonacidic reflux events as well, and can evaluate air and liquid esophageal exposure during a reflux event. This technology should ensure that nonacidic reflux causing reflux-type symptoms is accurately diagnosed, and should also help identify the truly functional heartburn patient who will not respond to any of the usual treatment options for GERD (pharmacologic, endoscopic, and surgical antireflux therapies).
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Gastroesophageal reflux disease is the medical term for what we know as acid reflux. Acid reflux occurs when the stomach releases its liquid back into the esophagus, causing inflammation and damage to the esophageal lining. The regurgitated acid most often consists of a few compoundsbr acid, bile, and pepsin.