Heartburn Center

Bravo pH Monitoring

Learn about the Bravo pH monitoring test available at our Heartburn Center, a vital tool for diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This advanced test uses a small capsule to measure acid reflux accurately. It’s done comfortably under light sedation in a procedure room. The capsule is placed on your esophagus to monitor how often and how strong stomach acid comes up. This helps us understand symptoms like heartburn, sore throat, chest pain, and coughing better, so we can plan the right treatment for you.

GERD affects many people, with about 44% of U.S. adults having symptoms monthly and nearly 20% weekly. If you have persistent acid reflux symptoms, it could be GERD, and a reflux test like Bravo™ can help confirm this. Unlike older tests, Bravo monitors you longer and in more natural conditions, which makes our diagnosis more accurate. This helps us create a personalized plan to manage your GERD effectively.

Bravo pH monitoring is especially useful for people considering bariatric surgery because it checks reflux levels before the operation to reduce risks. This helps us start treatment early and improves your long-term health and quality of life. Plus, the Bravo test is more comfortable than traditional tests that use a catheter. Find out how the Bravo pH monitoring test at our Heartburn Center can help improve your health and make life better for you.

ManoScan Esophageal Manometry

Learn about the ManoScan esophageal manometry test offered at our Heartburn Center, an important tool for checking how well your esophagus works. This test measures the pressures in your esophagus as it squeezes and relaxes. It helps diagnose conditions like acid reflux, heartburn, trouble swallowing, and chest pain that isn’t caused by heart problems. The test is done in less than 30 minutes. During the test, a small tube is gently placed through your nose and into your throat while you breathe, swallow, and talk as usual. Afterward, you can go back to your daily routine, and your doctor will discuss the results with you in a follow-up appointment, ensuring you get the right care and treatment plan.

ManoScan™ ESO high resolution manometry is different from standard endoscopies because it provides more detailed information about how your esophagus muscles and valves are working. This helps diagnose specific conditions like difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), achalasia (a rare swallowing disorder), and hiatal hernia (when part of your stomach pushes up through your diaphragm).

If you experience symptoms like trouble swallowing, food feeling stuck in your throat, or frequent heartburn, this test can give your doctor a clear picture of what’s happening in your esophagus. It’s a key step in finding the right treatment to improve your long-term health and quality of life.

Dr. Manieri is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. His post-graduate clinical training began at ChristianaCare Health System in Newark, Delaware, where he pursued a clinical rotation internship, before later completing a general surgical residency. Dr. Manieri’s clinical training concluded with a bariatric and minimally invasive surgical fellowship at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.

David R. Nehring, MD, is a general surgeon at Beebe Healthcare. He cares for patients of all ages, who have been diagnosed with a diverse range of medical conditions requiring surgical intervention. Dr. Nehring has a specific interest in minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques, and applies these techniques and technologies often when conducting hernia repairs and colon resections. Dr. Nehring also provides general surgical services for patients who present in the Emergency Department, demonstrating acute onset of appendicitis, gallbladder attacks, and hernias.

Rudolph Schilli, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist who practices at Beebe Healthcare. He performs a number of state-of-the-art, minimally invasive procedures to aid in the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of complex issues of the gastrointestinal tract that often correlate with heartburn – including high resolution manometry (HRM) and Bravo pH monitoring. In line with his clinical areas of specialty, Dr. Schilli has played an instrumental role in the foundation and growth of Beebe’s Heartburn Center.

John Tyson, MD, FACS, is a board certified general surgeon at Beebe Healthcare. He performs a broad range of general surgical procedures, including laparoscopic colectomies for patients who have been diagnosed with colon cancer. Dr. Tyson advocates for minimally invasive approaches to surgical care, knowing that patients tend to experience less complications and less pain post-operatively. Additionally, he collaborates closely with Beebe’s Gastroenterology team to promote the importance of screening and early detection of colon cancer, and also supports Beebe’s new Family Medicine Residency program, which launched in 2023.

Ramakrishna Tatineni, MD, is a board certified general surgeon with Beebe General Surgery. He received an MBBS from Osmania Medical College in India, in 1990, and completed an internship at the Osmania General Hospital and its affiliated teaching hospitals, in Hyderabad, India. He completed a general surgery residency in 1995 at Gandhi Hospital in India, a general surgery residency in 1997 at Flushing Hospital Medical Center in New York, and a general surgery residency at Christiana Care Health System in 2002. He is a member of Beebe Healthcare's Medical Staff.

Tarek Waked, MD, FACS, FASMBS, is a board certified general surgeon, specializing in advanced bariatric surgery. He completed his residency in general surgery at INOVA Fairfax Hospital in Virginia. Following this training, Dr. Waked joined the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where he completed a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery. Dr. Waked has performed more than 2,000 successful bariatric surgeries during his career and he is an expert in sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and biliary-pancreatic diversion with duodenal switch procedures. He also performs revisional surgeries for sleeves and bypass as well as general surgery such minimally invasive colon surgery, hernia surgery, gallbladder surgery and anti-reflux surgery.