What's the highest possible Demeester score?

Hi all,

I have just received the results from my 24 hr PH study and manometry test. In short, my Demeester score was 209 and my manometry test showed "ineffective oesophageal motility".

My surgeon says he's never seen such a high Demeester score and isn't sure what surgery to do - he would normally do a full wrap given the frequency/quantity of reflux, but is worried about dysphagia given the motility issue. He's referred me to an oesophageal expert for a second opinion.

Anyway, my real question is - how high does the Demeester scale go to? In all the googling I've done, I cannot find anyone who has had a score anywhere near as high as mine, and I can't find the scale anywhere. I'm wondering if I have the world record!

Thank you.

Thanks Macs, the surgeon I saw for the second opinion trained under Demeester in the USA, and he pretty much told me the same as you.

Thank rweintra,
Sorry to hear you caught COVID - I hope you have (or are near) a complete recovery.

I've since been referred to another GI surgeon. This guy is an Australian and literally wrote the guidelines (with others) on best practice for fundoplication surgery - he actually did his internship under Dr Demeester. Anyway, he said that although it's pretty high, he's seen others at my level and higher. He is really confident that the 270 will help me immensely and I am booked for surgery on May 20, although that is subject to restrictions being lifted on emergency surgery here in Aus (due to COVID-19).

What can I expect from the 270? Any limitations and what you can do (exercise) or what you can eat or drink? Did yours help with your swallowing? Any undesired side effects?

I'm still pretty anxious about the surgery but the symptoms are making life quite miserable for me at the moment, so I'm definitely going ahead with it.