Current Trends in Diagnosis and Management of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease; A Survey of Korean Otolaryngologists

인후두역류질환의 진단 및 치료 경향; 이비인후과 전문의 설문조사 결과

Background and Objectives: Although laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) is a widely recognized disease in the field of otolaryngology, controversies still exist regarding the diagnosis and treatment for it. The purpose of this survey was to find out current trends in diagnosis and management of LPRD among Korean otolaryngologists. Materials and Method: Questionnaires were obtained from 26 Korean otolaryngology specialists by electronic balloting, and 46 members of the Korean Society of Head and Neck Surgery (KSHNS) bye-mail. Survey participants were asked about their preferences in diagnostic policy, duration/dosage of antireflux treatment, and their familiarity to the reflux symptom index (RST) and the reflux finding scores (RFS). Results: The majority of the survey participants (64%) preferred empiric therapy trial with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) based on patients' symptoms and their laryngeal findings. PPIs alone (27%) or PPIs with prokinetics (32%) were usually prescribed as a first line treatment mostly with once daily schedule in the morning before meal and for less than 4 months of duration (86%). More than 90% of participants were aware of the RSI and RFS, but less than 50% of them were actually using those items in the clinics. Conclusion: Most of Korean otolaryngologists who participated in this survey answered that they prefer starting empirical treatments with proton pump inhibitors mainly based on the patient's symptoms and their laryngeal findings.