Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease Score - Medical Algorithm

Description

Patients with reflux disease may have gastric acid enter the upper airway (laryngopharyngeal reflux disease), with chronic cough and other symptoms. Belafsky et al developed the Reflux Finding Score (RFS) to grade the severity of changes seen during laryngoscopy. The authors are from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Parameters:

(1) subglottic edema

(2) ventricular obliteration

(3) erythema and hyperemia

(4) vocal cord edema

(5) diffuse laryngeal edema

(6) posterior commissure hypertrophy

(7) granuloma and/or granulation tissue

(8) thick endolaryngeal mucus

Parameter	Finding	Points
subglottic edema	absent	0
	present	2
ventricular obliteration	absent	0
	partial	2
	complete	4
erythema and hyperemia	absent	0
	arytenoids only	2
	diffuse	4
vocal cord edema	none	0
	mild	1
	moderate	2
	severe	3
	polypoid	4
diffuse laryngeal edema	none	0
	mild	1
	moderate	2
	severe	3
	obstructing	4
posterior commissure hypertrophy	none	0
	mild	1
	moderate	2
	severe	3
	obstructing	4
granuloma/granulation tissue	absent	0
	present	2
thick endolaryngeal mucus	absent	0
	present	2

where:

• The paper includes laryngoscopic views to demonstrate the changes seen.

reflux finding score =

= SUM(points for all 8 parameters)

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 26

• A score > 7 indicated laryngopharyngeal reflux.

• The higher the score, the more severe the changes.

To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.

Description

Specialty

Objective

ICD-10

Reflux Finding Score (RFS) of Belafsky et al for Grading Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease

Purpose: To grade the severity of findings on laryngoscopy in a patient with laryngopharyngeal reflux of gastric contents.

Description

Specialty

Objective

ICD-10