LARYNGOPHARYNGEAL REFLUX

Course overview

LARYNGOPHARYNGEAL REFLUX TYPICALLY RESULTS FROM THE EFFECTS OF REFLUX ON THE GLOTTIS AND VOCAL CORDS. PATIENTS MAY PRESENT WITH A MULTITUDE OF SYMPTOMS RANGING FROM THE MORE COMMON SYMPTOMS LIKE HOARSENESS, GLOBUS SENSATION, AND CHRONIC THROAT CLEARING TO THE LESS COMMON SYMPTOMS LIKE HEARTBURN AND REGURGITATION. IN CONTRAST TO PATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGEAL MOTOR DYSFUNCTION, PATIENTS WITH LARYNGOPHARYNGEAL REFLUX TYPICALLY HAVE UPRIGHT, OR DAYTIME, REFLUX. IN CONTRAST TO PATIENTS WITH GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX, WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOWER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER, PATIENTS WITH LARYNGOPHARYNGEAL REFLUX TYPICALLY HAVE PATHOLOGIC CHANGES OF THE UPPER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF LARYNGOPHARYNGEAL REFLUX AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE CARE OF AFFECTED PATIENTS.