scholarly journals Diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Author(s):  
Maria Aparecida Coelho de Arruda Henry

INTRODUCTION: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is probably one of the most prevalent diseases in the world that also compromises the quality of life of the affected significantly. Its incidence in Brazil is 12%, corresponding to 20 million individuals. OBJECTIVE: To update the GERD management and the new trends on diagnosis and treatment, reviewing the international and Brazilian experience on it. METHOD: The literature review was based on papers published on Medline/Pubmed, SciELO, Lilacs, Embase and Cochrane crossing the following headings: gastroesophageal reflux disease, diagnosis, clinical treatment, surgery, fundoplication. RESULTS: Various factors are involved on GERD physiopathology, the most important being the transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation. Clinical manifestations are heartburn, regurgitation (typical symptoms), cough, chest pain, asthma, hoarseness and throat clearing (atypical symptoms), which may be followed or not by typical symptoms. GERD patients may present complications such as peptic stenosis, hemorrhage, and Barrett's esophagus, which is the most important predisposing factor to adenocarcinoma. The GERD diagnosis must be based on the anamnesis and the symptoms must be evaluated in terms of duration, intensity, frequency, triggering and relief factors, pattern of evolution and impact on the patient's quality of life. The diagnosis requires confirmation with different exams. The goal of the clinical treatment is to relieve the symptoms and surgical treatment is indicated for patients who require continued drug use, with intolerance to prolonged clinical treatment and with GERD complications. CONCLUSION: GERD is a major digestive health problem and affect 12% of Brazilian people. The anamnesis is fundamental for the diagnosis of GERD, with special analysis of the typical and atypical symptoms (duration, intensity, frequency, triggering and relief factors, evolution and impact on the life quality). High digestive endoscopy and esophageal pHmetry are the most sensitive diagnosctic methods. The clinical treatment is useful in controlling the symptoms; however, the great problem is keeping the patients asymptomatic over time. Surgical treatment is indicated for patients who required continued drug use, intolerant to the drugs and with complicated forms of GERD.

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (02) ◽  
pp. 150-155
Author(s):  
Charlene Dekonenko ◽  
George W. Holcomb

AbstractGastroesophageal reflux (GER) is common in infants generally resolving in early childhood. However, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is diagnosed when persistent troublesome symptoms and/or complications of GER develop. These symptoms and complications can significantly affect the quality of life, thus requiring medical or surgical treatment. Medical management is typically trialed, but operative treatment is indicated with severe symptoms such as aspiration pneumonia, apneic episodes, bradycardia, apparent life-threatening events, severe vomiting, failure to thrive, esophagitis, stricture, and failed medical therapy. We review the recent literature on the indications and outcomes for laparoscopic fundoplication in the management of pediatric GERD.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 299-306
Author(s):  
Grażyna Jurkowska ◽  
Agnieszka Świdnicka-Siergiejko ◽  
Katarzyna Łagoda ◽  
Regina Sierżantowicz ◽  
Andrzej Dąbrowski

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 89-99
Author(s):  
Michael F. Vaezi

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a commonly diagnosed condition often associated with the typical symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation, although it may present with atypical symptoms such as chest pain, hoarseness, chronic cough, and asthma. In most cases, the patient's reduced quality of life drives clinical care and diagnostic testing. Because of its widespread impact on voice and swallowing function as well as its social implications, it is important that speech-language pathologists (SLPs) understand the nature of GERD and its consequences. The purpose of this article is to summarize the nature of GERD and GERD-related complications such as GERD-related peptic stricture, Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma, and laryngeal manifestations of GERD from a gastroenterologist's perspective. It is critical that SLPs who work with a multidisciplinary team understand terminology, diagnostic tools, and treatment to ensure best practice.


2013 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 194-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Promberger ◽  
A. Spitzer ◽  
J. Ott ◽  
J. Lenglinger ◽  
W. Eilenberg ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
Iryna Romash

Introduction. It has been scientifically confirmed that the risk of developing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) increases especially with generalized or regional disruption of connective tissue structure, which is widespread among the population. Patients with such comorbid pathology may have a wide range of symptoms that may go beyond the general symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation. The symptoms and complications of GERD affect general health, daily and social functioning, physical and emotional activity. It also affects the quality of life (QoL) associated with health through frequent breaks during sleep, work and social activities. Purpose. study the dynamics of the level of quality of life and social functioning in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease in combination with the syndrome of undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia. Methodology. A total of 120 patients were included in the study: 65 men and 55 women: in 75 of them (Group II) GERD occurred on the background of UCTD, in 45 (Group I) as an independent disease. The control group consisted of 12 healthy individuals. The study was comprehensive. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Status (SF-36),the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and the scale of "Personal and social performance" (PSP) -  were used to study patients in detail. Results and Discussion. Analyzing the results obtained on the basis of the GSRS questionnaire (Table 1), in patients with GERD on the background of UCTD, compared with patients of group I and the control group, there is a significant increase in three and four from the five scales. QoL in patients of Group II on the scale "Abdominal pain" were 14.3 ± 0.4 points, in Group I - 5.6 ± 1.3 points, in the Control Group - 2.4 ± 0.8 points, on the scale "Reflux syndrome": 13.7 ± 0.9, 10.5 ± 1.3 and 3.1 ± 0.9, respectively. "Dyspeptic syndrome" - 15.3 ± 0.4 points in Group II, 12.2 ± 0.6- in Group I and 6.1 ± 0.3- in the control group. "Constipation syndrome" 9.5 ± 0.8, 5.6 ± 1.03 and 5.7 ± 0.4, respectively (p <0,05). Conclusions: In this research we investigated the effect of comorbid pathology on QoL in patients with GERD, which developed against the background of UCTD. The results confirm that patients with such combined pathology have a lower level of quality of life and social functioning, and the tactics of treatment of such patients should take into account these changes


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document