Assessing the Impacts of an Upper Esophageal Sphincter Assist Device on Laryngeal Symptoms and Salivary Pepsin: A Pilot Study

A cost-effective and care appropriate algorithm to streamline the diagnosis and management of patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) has not been described. It is postulated that the incompetence of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) to restrict passage of esophageal refluxate is fundamental to the development of LPR. The UES Assist Device (UESAD) is a novel device that applies relatively modest external cricoid pressure, which results in a 20 to 30 mmHg intraluminal UES pressure increase. Pepsin, a proteolytic enzyme produced in the stomach, has been detected in the laryngeal epithelium of patients with reflux associated laryngeal symptoms and implicated in the pathogenesis of laryngopharyngeal reflux. A study examining salivary pepsin levels for patients pre- and post-fundoplication for LPR found that all patients with positive preoperative pepsin levels and postoperative elimination had symptom improvement, suggesting that changes in pepsin level may be reflective of surgical responsiveness. This study seeks to explore the therapeutic role of the UESAD in patients with LPR symptoms, and measure its effectiveness by objective criteria (salivary pepsin) and symptomatic improvement. In this study, 25 patients seen in GI clinic with laryngeal complaints will complete validated symptom questionnaires - the RSI, GerdQ and N-GSSIQ scores. Those with an RSI > 13 and GerdQ > 8 will be included. They will submit 3 baseline sputum samples for pepsin analysis, taken upon awaking. They will then be advised to use the UESAD nightly for 2 weeks. 3 follow-up sputum samples for pepsin analysis will be taken and symptom scores reevaluated after the 2 week period.