GERD

Patients with refractory to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms are approximately 40% and represent a very common problem in clinical practice. Many of these patients do not have GERD, but suffer from functional heartburn or hypersensitive esophagus. After thorough clinical evaluation and failure of escalation of PPI dose, diagnostic investigations include endoscopy, esophageal manometry, pH testing, esophageal Bilitec and esophageal impedance with pH monitoring.

The most common extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include chronic cough, asthma and laryngitis. There are two mechanisms proposed to explain extraesophageal syndromes caused by GERD. The first one is a direct way via irritation and/or microaspiration and the second one is an indirect, vagally mediated way. The investigation of extraesophageal manifestations of GERD is difficult and the empirical therapy with proton pump inhibitors usually double dose for at least three months is still the most common approach...

OBJECTIVES: This study applies concurrent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high-resolution manometry (HRM) to test the hypothesis that structural factors involved in reflux protection, in particular, the acute insertion angle of the esophagus into the stomach, are impaired in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients. METHODS: A total of 24 healthy volunteers and 24 patients with mild-moderate GERD ingested a test meal. Three-dimensional models of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) were reconstructed from MRI images...

BACKGROUND: Empirical therapy has been recommended as an initial clinical approach for treating gastroesophageal reflux-induced chronic cough (GERC). This study compared the predictive accuracy of the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GerdQ) with the accuracy of multichannel intraluminal impedance pH monitoring (MII-pH) for GERC. METHODS: A total of 126 consecutive patients with potential GERC were recruited to undergo MII-pH and complete the GerdQ...

BACKGROUND: Previous research suggested that antireflux surgery reached its peak volume in the US more than a decade ago. Factors such as changes in population demographics and improvements in surgical outcomes may have reversed this decline. We sought to examine national trends in the management of antireflux surgery patients and identify patient and hospital characteristics associated with postoperative complications. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify adults with gastroesophageal reflux disease or esophagitis who underwent elective antireflux surgery between 2005 and 2010...

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disease that is often diagnosed based on typical symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation. In addition to these more classic manifestations, GERD is increasingly associated with extra-esophageal symptoms, including chronic cough, asthma, laryngitis, and dental erosions. Due to the poor sensitivity of endoscopy and pH monitoring, and the poor specificity of laryngoscopy, empiric therapy with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is now considered the initial diagnostic step in patients suspected of having GERD-related symptoms...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of proton pump inhibitors in infants aged <1 year with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). STUDY DESIGN: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study, neonates (premature to 1 month corrected age; n = 52) with signs and symptoms of GERD received esomeprazole 0.5 mg/kg or placebo once daily for up to 14 days. Change from baseline in the total number of GERD symptoms (from video monitoring) and GERD-related signs (from cardiorespiratory monitoring) was assessed with simultaneous esophageal pH, impedance, cardiorespiratory, and 8-hour video monitoring...

Functional dyspepsia is a very common, distressful, and costly condition. New data indicate that heartburn and regurgitation occur frequently in functional dyspepsia, even after objective gastroesophageal reflux disease has been exhaustively excluded by appropriate testing. Arbitrarily excluding heartburn in functional dyspepsia studies appears misguided.

OBJECTIVE: To compare short- and long-term outcome after 180-degree laparoscopic anterior fundoplication (180-degree LAF) with laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: LNF is currently the most frequently performed surgical therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Alternatively, 180-degree LAF has been alleged to reduce troublesome dysphagia and gas-related symptoms, with similar reflux control. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and web of Knowledge CPCI-S were searched for randomized clinical trials comparing primary 180-degree LAF with LNF...

BACKGROUND: Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease who have a partial response to proton-pump inhibitors often seek alternative therapy. We evaluated the safety and effectiveness of a new magnetic device to augment the lower esophageal sphincter. METHODS: We prospectively assessed 100 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease before and after sphincter augmentation. The study did not include a concurrent control group. The primary outcome measure was normalization of esophageal acid exposure or a 50% or greater reduction in exposure at 1 year...

BACKGROUND: Upper endoscopy is commonly used in the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Evidence demonstrates that it is indicated only in certain situations, and inappropriate use generates unnecessary costs and exposes patients to harms without improving outcomes. METHODS: The Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians reviewed evidence regarding the indications for, and yield of, upper endoscopy in the setting of GERD, and to highlight how clinicians can increase the delivery of high-value health care...

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic and physiologic studies suggest an association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and chronic cough. However, the benefit of antireflux therapy for chronic cough remains unclear, with most relevant trials reporting negative findings. This systematic review aimed to reevaluate the response of chronic cough to antireflux therapy in trials that allowed us to distinguish patients with or without objective evidence of GERD. METHODS: PubMed and Embase systematic searches identified clinical trials reporting cough response to antireflux therapy...

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The efficacy of proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy often is assessed to determine whether patients' symptoms are acid-related and if patients have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), although the accuracy of this approach is questionable. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of the PPI test, in conjunction with other tests, for the diagnosis of GERD. METHODS: We analyzed data from the DIAMOND study, a multinational trial that compared the ability of the reflux disease questionnaire with that of symptom-based clinical diagnosis to identify GERD in primary care patients with frequent upper-gastrointestinal symptoms...

One of the challenges to the effective management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the multiple pathophysiological etiologies that contribute to this symptom complex. The majority of patients with GERD have no visible abnormalities during standard endoscopic examination, and this subgroup of patients, defined as having non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), has a low response rate to acid suppression therapy with proton pump inhibitors. With advances in endoscopic imaging technology, it may soon be possible to better define subtle esophagus lesions in these patients, which may help identify those that will respond to acid suppressive therapy...

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Diagnostic tests for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are constrained because measurements are made at a single time point, so the long-term effects on the mucosa cannot be determined. We developed a minimally invasive system to assess changes in esophageal mucosal impedance (MI), a marker of reflux. We measured the extent of changes in MI along the esophagus and show that the device to assess MI can be used to diagnose patients with GERD. METHODS: A single-channel MI catheter composed of a unique sensor array was designed to easily traverse the working channel of an upper endoscope...

Patients with reflux symptoms often do not have excessive esophageal acid exposure, and patients with severe gastroesophageal reflux often do not have reflux symptoms. Understanding why different types of reflux induce symptoms in different patients is vital for addressing therapeutic gaps in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Here we review studies providing insight into how gastroesophageal reflux is perceived, with a focus on comparing reflux characteristics and esophageal sensitivity among subgroups of patients with GERD...

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects 20-30% of the population in Western countries, and is one of the most common clinical problems in daily practice. GERD-associated functional and structural abnormalities are caused by recurrent exposure of the esophagus to acidic and nonacidic refluxate of gastric contents (containing duodenal and intestinal proteases as well as acid and gastric pepsin) from the stomach. Major progress has been made in the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of GERD-associated mucosal inflammation, suggesting a complex and multifactorial pathogenesis and immune-mediated effects...