Gastro-esophageal reflux

Abstract

Fifteen patients with endogenous moderate bronchial asthma (BA) were examined. Clinical, esophago-scopic, and radiological features of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) were evaluated. We applied the modified test of B.Kh.Vasilenko (1971) to reveal esophageal-bronchial reflux. A rubber probe was brought into the medium one third of the esophagus through the nose, then 0.9% saline solution 0.1 N hydrochloric acid solu­ tion were infused drop by drop gradually during 30 min each via the probe. The solution portions were previ­ ously warmed up to 37eC. The infusion rate was 20 to 30 drops for a minute. The forced expiratory volume (FEV₁₎ was measured each 10 min of the infusion procedure. The GER signs were revealed in 40% of all the cases. The GER rate in BA depended on the disease length. The intraesophageal infusion of the hydrochloric acid solution increased the bronchial obstruction in patients with GER signs and the infusion of the saline solu­tion reduced it in all the BA patients.