pH Monitoring
To schedule an appointment or to speak with a physician about digestive health, please call the screening coordinator at (219) 464-9507.
Northwest Health - Porter's Center for Digestive Health offers a patient-friendly test to aid GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) sufferers in understanding their symptoms. Esophageal pH monitoring is a minimally invasive test for evaluation of heartburn or related symptoms.
After receiving a local anesthesia, a miniature pH capsule approximately the size of a gelcap will be placed into a patient’s esophagus using a delivery device. The capsule will remain temporarily attached to the wall of the esophagus throughout the test period, measuring the pH in the esophagus and transmitting the information to a small recorder worn on the belt or waistband.
Patients can resume normal activities right away. Once the test has been completed, the recorder will be returned to the physician and the results will be analyzed to aid in a diagnosis. The disposable capsule will dislodge from the esophagus and pass naturally through the digestive tract.