This monitoring system is worn for 48–96 hours and allows a doctor to view the pH levels in the esophagus. They will then examine the results to determine when episodes of reflux occurred and whether they were acidic or nonacidic. When the person returns, the doctor will remove the catheter and collect the reader and the written record. The catheter is generally not uncomfortable and does not interfere with eating or sleeping. Additionally, the person will keep a written record of symptoms during the time they wear the catheter. The reader will log measurements of acid moving from the stomach into the esophagus over the next 24 hours. The catheter affixes to the nose with tape, wraps behind an ear, and connects to a small reader that the person wears on the waist when they return home. They will then place a thin, flexible catheter through the nose and into the esophagus and stomach. This test can reveal whether GERD is acidic or nonacidic, which can determine the course of treatment.Īt their office, a doctor will spray a topical anesthetic into the throat to numb the area. It measures the levels of liquid and air that are passing through the esophagus into the stomach. This exam takes place over a 24-hour period. If damage is visible in the esophagus, the doctor may use small instruments that pass through the endoscope to take a biopsy. The tube has a light and a camera which allow the doctor to see the structure of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine and look for damage or problems. It is the most common first step in diagnosing GERD.Īfter sedating the person, the doctor will insert an endoscope - a flexible tube - down the throat through the esophagus. Others require an individual to wear sensing equipment for 24–48 hours to measure acid levels and the motion of the digestive tract.ĭoctors will perform an upper endoscopy under light anesthetic. Some doctors also choose to begin treatment immediately based on symptoms.ĭoctors will perform some tests for GERD in their office or an outpatient clinic.

An upper endoscopy is often the first step. These tests allow a doctor to look at the structure of the digestive tract and the motion of food and acid. Symptoms may be enough to diagnose GERD, but in many cases, the doctor will order one or more tests to examine the esophagus. To diagnose GERD, a medical professional will take a complete medical history and ask about symptoms.

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