Bravo PH Monitoring
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Specialists in Gastroenterology
Board Certified Gastroenterologists located in St. Louis, MO
Bravo™ pH monitoring is an effective way to test the severity of your acid reflux symptoms. At Specialists in Gastroenterology, the board-certified gastroenterologists use Bravo pH monitoring to customize an acid reflux treatment plan that works best for you. The providers place the probe during an in-office upper endoscopy and read your results at the conclusion of your test. Find out if Bravo pH monitoring is right for you by calling the office in St. Louis, Missouri, or booking an appointment online today.
Bravo pH Monitoring Q & A
What is Bravo pH monitoring?
The Bravo pH monitoring system is a diagnostic test to determine the frequency and duration of acid reflux, a condition that describes the backflow of stomach acids into your esophagus.
Bravo pH testing can also monitor symptoms of chronic acid reflux, a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). You might need Bravo pH testing if you’re considering anti-reflux surgery to treat GERD.
The system records information about your acid reflux symptoms for up to 96 hours. This information helps Specialists in Gastroenterology design a treatment plan that makes your condition easier to control.
What is involved in Bravo pH monitoring?
The Bravo pH monitoring system uses a miniature pH recorder that attaches to the middle of your esophagus. Specialists in Gastroenterology places the disposable capsule probe that contains the recorder during a minimally invasive upper endoscopy procedure and later reads the results of your testing.
An upper endoscopy involves the insertion of a flexible tube into your mouth that travels down into your esophagus. Your provider attaches the recorder without the need for incisions.
The capsule transmits information via radio signals to a receiver. This receiver has several buttons that you press to record symptoms of acid reflux as you experience them in real time.
Your provider tells you what to record throughout your testing period, and you will also keep a diary noting activities such as:
- Lying down
- Getting up
- Taking medications
- Stop and start times for eating and drinking
You should go about your usual routine throughout your testing period but you might need to avoid certain activities, such as not chewing gum, until the probe falls off.
How long do I need to continue Bravo pH monitoring?
The Bravo pH capsule continues recording information about the pH levels in your esophagus for up to 96 hours. You won’t need an additional procedure to remove it because the recorder falls away naturally, then moves through your digestive system and passes as waste.
The information the probe collects about your acid reflux is what Specialists in Gastroenterology uses to create your treatment plan. Testing helps them customize an effective plan to treat your existing symptoms and prevent complications like Barrett’s esophagus.
If you need a diagnostic evaluation for acid reflux, schedule an appointment for Bravo pH monitoring online or by calling Specialists in Gastroenterology today.