Feasibility of Placing Bravo PH Capsule in Proximal Esophagus

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Assessing the feasibility and patient tolerance to placement of Bravo PH capsule in proximal esophagus. There will be no difference in patient-perception of a proximally-placed Bravo esophageal pH monitor compared with a distal monitor.

Detailed Description
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24-hour pH monitoring is often considered the gold standard in the diagnosis of GERD and is increasingly utilized in patients with extra-esophageal symptoms (1). However, the clinical utility of pH monitoring in this patient population remains controversial. An important limitation of traditional pH catheters is their suboptimal sensitivity especially in patients with extraesophageal GERD. Vaezi et al. tested reproducibility and reliability of the proximal and distal esophageal pH probe in 32 patients (2). Among these patients,11 were controls, 10 had distal reflux, and 11 had both proximal and distal reflux. In this group of patients the sensitivity of distal and proximal pH probes were 70% and 55%, respectively. Additionally, a more recent study by Shaker et al. showed the number and duration of hypopharyngeal reflux events to be similar between the control subjects and patients with reflux laryngitis and vasomotor rhinitis (3). Poor sensitivity of catheter based pH monitoring in detecting acid reflux may be due to day to day variability of test, its less than adequate reliability as well as possible intermittent nature of the reflux events (not recorded in only a 24-hour period) (4). Additionally, since the traditional ambulatory device is commonly placed transnasally through the oropharynx into the esophagus, patients often complain of throat and nose discomfort and usually restrict their daily activity. This potentially leads to false negative findings and reduced test sensitivity. Furthermore, incorrect results may be collected if the pH electrode slips away from the initial manometrically determined placement site. In light of these limitations, a new wireless (catheter free) pH monitoring device was developed to improve patient comfort and increase test sensitivity. The Bravo pH monitoring system (Medtronic Inc, Minneapolis, MN) uses a radiotelemetric capsule temporarily attached to the esophageal mucosa which transmits pH data to a receiver carried on patient's belt. Although well studied in the distal esophagus, there are currently no studies in adults assessing the feasibility and patient tolerance to placement of this device more proximally. Such a placement may increase the sensitivity of the test and add to our ability to study potential predictors of treatment response in patients with extraesophageal GERD.

Official Title
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DUAL BRAVO PH MONITORING: A Feasibility Trial

Conditions
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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: BRAVO capsule
* Procedure: Fluoroscopy
* Other: sham BRAVO capsule placement


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion criteria will include the following: Patients greater than or equal to 18 years of age Patients having regularly scheduled upper endoscopy with planned Bravo pH monitor testing Patients with known GERD based on symptoms (heartburn, regurgitation) and response to a proton pump inhibitor or esophagitis on EGD as well as those with extraesophageal GERD (cough, asthma and throat discomfort). Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion criteria will include the following: Previous surgical procedures to the upper esophagus History of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy Stroke or transient ischemic attack within the past 6 months GI bleeding within the previous 6 months Known esophageal varices Significant medical illness (i.e., congestive heart failure) Pregnancy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: EGD with proximal BRAVO capsule<br>Subjects have a second BRAVO capsule placed 10cm proximal to prior BRAVO capsule placement. Fluoroscopy is used to confirm detachment of the monitor 7 days after investigational deployment. | Device: BRAVO capsule<br> <br> Procedure: Fluoroscopy<br>* one time xray to determine evacuation of bravo<br>* Other names: one time xray to determine evacuation of bravo;|
| Sham Comparator: EGD with sham BRAVO capsule placement<br>Subjects have a EGD with BRAVO delivery introducer positioned 10cm proximal to prior BRAVO capsule placement with no BRAVO placed. | Other: sham BRAVO capsule placement<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Patients Requiring Endoscopic Removal of BRAVO Because of Reported Discomfort |  | 48 hours | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subjects Reporting Chest Pain | Edmonton Symptom Assessment is used to measure the presence and change in symptoms. | 48 hours |