﻿ Esophageal pH Monitoring (Esophageal pH Test) and Related
Information - MedicineNet  Esophageal pH Monitoring (Esophageal
pH Test)  Medical Author: Medical Editor:  What is esophageal pH
monitoring?   When is esophageal pH monitoring used?   How is
esophageal pH monitoring performed?  Esophageal pH monitoring is
performed by passing a thin plastic catheter a sixteenth of an
inch in diameter through one nostril, down the back of the
throat, and into the esophagus as the patient swallows. The tip
of the catheter contains a sensor that senses acid. The sensor
is positioned in the esophagus so that it is just above the
lower esophageal sphincter, a specialized area of esophageal
muscle that lies at the junction of the esophagus and stomach
and prevents acid from refluxing back up into the esophagus. In
this position the sensor records each reflux of acid. The
catheter protruding from the nose is connected to a recorder
that registers each reflux of acid.  The patient is sent home
with the catheter and recorder