Oesophageal Acid Perfusion Test as a Complement to Work Test in Patients with Chest Pain

Abstract

Of 121 patients referred to a work test because of chest pain, 67 with a case history typical for esophageal dysfunction were further investigated with an acid perfusion test during continuous ECG monitoring. Neither arrhythmias nor ST-T changes were induced by the procedure. Of the 67 patients, 6 had a positive related acid perfusion test, 23 a positive unrelated and the remainder a negative test. Of the 14 patients with pathological effort ECG, 5 belonged to the group with a positive acid perfusion test. The acid perfusion test, as a safe routine in close connection with the effort ECG in selected patients, is a useful technique for establishing whether or not the patient''s symptoms have an esophageal component.