Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Research Articles

A140 Magnetic sphincter augmentation for the treatment of refractory GERD after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

A140 Magnetic sphincter augmentation for the treatment of refractory GERD after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

RWD124 Direct Cost Burden of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD) to US Employers

This study assessed the economic burden of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) among employer-sponsored insurance holders in a large multi-employer claims database in the US.

ESOPHAGEAL MANOMETRY PROFILE IN PATIENTS OF UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS IN WESTERN INDIA: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

INTRODUCTION: High-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) is a technique to determine the pressure pattern which is a function of esophageal musculature and integrity of LES. The indications for HREM evaluation include evaluation of nonobstructive dysphagia, symptoms of regurgitation and noncardiac or atypical chest pain unexplained by endoscopic evaluation To analyse profile of esophageal motility disorders in patient presenting with refractoryAIM: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), dysphagia and atypical chest pain in tertiary care centre in Western India METHODS: We enrolled patient presented with refractory GERD, dysphagia and atypical chest pain from Jan 2020 to March 2022 at Department of gastroenterology, National Institute of Medical College & R, Jaipur. Upper GI endoscopy and high-resolution esophageal manometry was done in all patients Ineffective esophageal peristalsis,RESULTS: achalasia cardia, hypercontractile esophagus, fragmented peristalsis and esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction were common diagnosis made by high resolution esophageal manometry In our study ineffectiveConclusion: esophageal motility most common and achalasia cardia second most common diagnosis identified on esophageal manometry

Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Esophageal Atresia Patients: A Cross-Sectional Survey amongst International Clinicians.

Objectives:After surgical repair, up to 70% of esophageal atresia (EA) patients suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN guidelines on management of gastrointestinal complications in EA patients were published in 2016. Yet, the implementation of recommendations on GERD management remains poor.We aimed to assess GERD management in EA patients in more detail, to identify management inconsistencies, gaps in current knowledge, and future directions for research.Methods:A digital questionnaire on GERD management in EA patients was sent to all members of the ESPGHAN EA working group and members of the International network of esophageal atresia (INoEA).Results:Forty responses were received. Thirty-five (87.5%) clinicians routinely prescribed acid suppressive therapy for 1–24 (median 12) months. A fundoplication was considered by 90.0% of clinicians in case of refractory GERD with persistent symptoms despite maximal acid suppressive therapy and in 92.5% of clinicians in case of GERD with presence of esophagitis on EGD. Half of clinicians referred patients with recurrent strictures or dependence on transpyloric feeds. Up to 25.0% of clinicians also referred all long-gap EA patients for fundoplication, those with long-term need of acid suppressants, recurrent chest infections and feedings difficulties.Conclusions:Respondents’ opinions on the optimal duration for routine acid suppressive therapy and indications for fundoplication in EA patients varied widely. To improve evidence-based care for EA patients, future prospective multicenter outcome studies should compare different diagnostic and treatment regimes for GERD in patients with EA. Complications of therapy should be one of the main outcome measures in such trials.

Clinical trial: a controlled trial of baclofen add-on therapy in PPI-refractory gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) have no effect on non-acid reflux events which can continue to provoke gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms. Baclofen, a γ-aminobutyric acid agonist, can decrease non-acid reflux but its symptomatic benefit in refractory GERD symptoms is understudied. To assess the efficacy of baclofen 10mg t.i.d. vs placebo as add-on therapy in PPI-refractory GERD symptoms, in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients with persisting typical GERD symptoms on b.i.d. PPI therapy were randomised to 4 weeks of baclofen 10mg or placebo t.i.d. Before and after treatment, patients underwent 24 h impedance-pH monitoring on-PPI. Throughout the study, patients filled out ReQuest diaries. Data were analysed using mixed models. About 60 patients were included (age 47.5 years [range 19-73], 41f/19 m), 31 patients were randomised to baclofen. One patient withdrew consent and five in the baclofen group stopped treatment due to side effects. There was a trend towards a better response for general wellbeing in the baclofen-treated group compared to placebo (p= 0.06). When subdividing patients according to symptom association probability (SAP), only the SAP+ (n= 25) group improved significantly with baclofen (pcorr = 0.02), and worsened with placebo (pcorr = 0.008). The total number of reflux events decreased over time (p= 0.01), mainly due to the baclofen condition (pcorr = 0.1). The number of reflux events with a high proximal extent dropped significantly after baclofen (pcorr = 0.009), but not placebo. Baclofen decreases several reflux parameters in PPI refractory GERD symptoms, but pH-impedance monitoring is necessary before treatment as only SAP+ patients experience clinical benefit after 4 weeks.

Anti-reflux mucosectomy for refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background and study aims Anti-reflux mucosectomy (ARMS) is an emerging endoscopic treatment for refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy ARMS in refractory GERD. Methods A comprehensive search of multiple databases (through March 2020) was performed to identify studies that reported outcomes of ARMS for refractory GERD. Outcomes assessed included technical success, clinical response, and adverse events (AEs). Clinical response was defined as discontinuation (complete) or reduction (partial) of proton pump inhibitors post-ARMS at follow up. Results A total of 307 patients (mean age 46.9 [8.1] years, 41.5 % females) were included from 10 studies. The technical success and clinical response rates were 97.7 % (95 % confidence interval [CI], 94.6–99.0) and 80.1 % (95 % CI, 61.6–91.0), respectively. The pooled rate of complete and partial clinical response was 65.3 % (95 % CI, 51.4–77.0) and 21.5 % (95 % CI, 14.2–31.2), respectively. The rate of AEs was 17.2 % (95 % CI, 13.1–22.2) with most common AE being dysphagia/esophageal stricture followed by bleeding with rates of 11.4 % and 5.0 %, respectively. GERD health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) (mean difference [MD] = 14.9, P < 0.001), GERD questionnaire (GERD-Q) (MD = 4.85, P < 0.001) and mean acid exposure time (MD = 2.39, P = 0.01) decreased significantly post-ARMS as compared to pre-procedure. There was no difference in terms of clinical response and AEs between ARMS and ARMS with banding on subgroup analysis. Conclusions ARMS is a safe and effective procedure for treatment of refractory GERD with high rates of clinical response, acceptable safety profile and significant improvement in GERD-related quality of life. Prospective studies are needed to validate our findings.

Prevalence of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective:Prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis in patients with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. Study Design:A Cross-sectional Study Place and Duration:The study was conducted at Gastroenterology department of DHQ Teaching Hospital, Timargarafor six months from August 2021 to January 2022. Methods: There were 300 patients of both genders presented in this study. Individuals who agreed to participate, their personal information such as age, gender, height and weight was recorded with their informed permission. Included patients were had gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. Esophageal biopsies of all the patients were underwentesophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis was recorded among all cases. SPSS 23.0 was used to analyze all data. Results: The mean age of the patients was 41.9±8.21 years and had mean BMI 25.7±6.31 kg/m2. Majority of the patients were males 190 (63.3%) and 110 (36.7%) were females. We found that frequency of eosinophilic esophagitis among all cases were 27 (9%). Among 27 cases of EoE, males were higher in number 19 (70.4%) than females 8 (29.6%). Among these cases, heartburn was the most common symptom found in 10 (37.03%) cases, followed by dysphagia in 6 (22.2%), epigastric pain in 5 (18.5%). Lower esophagus found in 12 (44.4%) cases and mid in 15 (55.6%) cases. Mean eosinophils was 24.4±7.29 per HPF. As per histological findings,eosinophilicmicroabscess was found in 20 (70.1%) cases. Conclusion:Patients with refractory GERD are at risk of developing eosinophilic esophagitis, which can be life-threatening. Dysphagia, heartburn, and food impaction are all possible symptoms. The EoE screening of elderly patients with prolonged GERD, atopy, and non-response to stomach acid inhibitors must be evaluated. Keywords: Refractory GERD, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Dysphagia, Heartburn

POS0895 THE ROLE OF SURGERY IN THE ESOPHAGEAL INVOLVEMENT IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

BackgroundAmong gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) one of the predominant and challenging problems is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which occurs in ~75% of patients. Although proton pump inhibitors are useful, they are ineffective in 40% of cases with chronic use at high doses, against the background of long-term risks (e.g., cardiovascular disease and infections) which have been identified in the general population. Surgery might be an option following failure of medical therapy but currently, there is no consensus regarding the optimal surgical procedure for refractory GERD in SSc.ObjectivesTo evaluate, among the surgical approaches to GERD, the feasibility of fundoplication (FP) with regards to its safety, efficacy, indications, and timing.MethodsFour research questions based on the PICO framework were developed to guide the systematic literature review that was conducted up to 22 December 2021. The search and performed across different databases including PubMed, MEDLINE (OVID), EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Emcare and Academic Search Premier. References were independently screened by two reviewers (PMC and AA) who also independently assessed the full text of eligible articles, and extracted data. Due to heterogeneity of retrieved studies, narrative summaries are used to present the data.ResultsThe search yielded 916 papers of which 30 were eligible for full text review. In these studies, out of 2919 clinically heterogeneous patients, 348 SSc patients were identified (mostly female, mean age 52.7 years). Out of these 348, only 257 underwent anti-reflux surgical procedure and were included in the analysis. Most of the studies were conducted in surgical settings and relevant rheumatological data were largely missing. Refractory GERD symptoms, were the commonest indication for surgery, with post-operative dysphagia being the most frequent complication. In 18 studies, FP was effective, whereas 4 studies had equivocal findings and in 5 a lack of efficacy was reported. The Collis-Nissen FP was the most popular procedure overall as well as in earlier studies, followed by Nissen FP, and Dor FP in relatively more recent studies, reflecting the change in surgical strategy over time. The data extracted shows also an acceptable rate of mortality and morbidity related to surgery, and heterogeneous outcome measures were used hampering any comparison of the studies (Table 1). Due to the heterogeneity of the data, it was not possible to separate the mortality and morbidity rate of SSc patients from the rest of the population.Table 1.GERD ASSESSMENT AND SURGICAL OUTCOMESDomain assessed/outcomeInstrument/MeasurementN° of studiesReflux severityDysphagia: 20Number of antireflux medications: 10High dose PPI: 9pH monitoring (pre-procedure): 11Oesophagitis/Barret 4Reflux improvement (post-procedure)Symptom resolution/reduction 24pH monitoring 12Repeat EGDS 8N° of patientsN° of surgical proceduresTotSSc 257Collis-Nissen FP 54Nissen FP 39Dor FP 37Collis-Belsey FP 20Toupet FP 18RYGB 23Others 30Undefined 36Post-operative surgical complications73 (2,5%)*Mortality (n° deaths)8 (0,27%)**rate in total population (2919)ConclusionOur SLR has highlighted that the surgical management of GERD in SSc patients is still highly challenging since the available evidence is scarce and of poor quality. Among the surgical approaches to the problem of GERD, overall FP seems a safe and effective procedure in SSc. Transient post-operative dysphagia was noted in many studies, particularly related with the posterior FP. In the future, it will be necessary to develop minimal requirement to conduct surgical studies in SSc as well as to design studies aimed at defining the clinical criteria for referral to surgery. Indeed, the right timing for surgery and the best surgical procedure in SSc still remains an unmet need.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared

Antireflux band mucosectomy: a novel minimally invasive approach for the treatment of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background and AimsEndoscopic therapies in the treatment of refractory GERD have largely been regarded as inferior as surgical intervention. Procedures such as the transoral endoscopic incisionless fundoplication (TIF), Stretta, and antireflux mucosectomy (ARMS) are less invasive but produce outcomes that are middling to lackluster, with many patients having to continue proton pump therapy without resolution of symptoms. Antireflux band mucosectomy (ARBM), in which the cardia is banded, may provide more effective relief. We present 4 patients with refractory GERD who did not opt for surgical intervention and were successfully treated with the ARBM procedure.MethodsFour patients with GERD refractory to medical therapy underwent ARBM. Three patients had nonerosive esophagitis and 1 patient had erosive esophagitis. Two patients had hiatal hernias ≤2 cm. All underwent preprocedure and postprocedure pH bravo testing as well as follow-up EGD.ResultsAll cases were completed successfully. All patients underwent a decrease in DeMeester score and acid exposure time. Procedure time ranged from 6 to 15 minutes. There were no adverse events. All patients were taken off proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy by 4 weeks postprocedure.ConclusionsFour patients with refractory GERD who declined surgery underwent the ARBM procedure with technical success. All experienced significant decrease to complete resolution of symptoms. All patients were weaned off PPIs by 4 weeks postprocedure.

Knowledge gaps in the management of refractory reflux-like symptoms: Healthcare provider survey.

Refractory reflux-like symptoms have a substantial impact on patients and healthcare providers. The aim of the survey was to qualitatively assess the needs and attitudes of practicing clinicians around the management of refractory reflux symptoms and refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (rGERD). An International Working Group for the Classification of Oesophagitis (IWGCO) steering committee invited clinicians to complete an online survey including 17 questions. Of the 113 clinicians who completed the survey, 70% were GIs, 20% were primary care physicians, and 10% were other specialties. Functional heartburn was considered the most common reason for an incomplete response to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy (82%), followed by stress/anxiety (69%). More GIs identified esophageal hypersensitivity as a cause, while more non-GIs identified esophageal dysmotility and non-reflux-related esophageal conditions. As the first step, most clinicians would order investigations (70-88%). Overall, 72% would add supplemental therapy for patients with partial response, but only 58% for those with non-response. Antacid/alginate was the most common choice overall, while non-GIs were more likely to add a prokinetic than were GIs (47.8 vs. 24.1%). Approximately 40% of clinicians would switch PPIs in patients with partial response, but only 29% would do so in non-responders. Preferences for long-term therapy were highly variable. The most common initial investigation was upper endoscopy. Choice of esophageal manometry and pH monitoring was more variable, with no clear preference for whether pH monitoring should be conducted on, or off, PPI therapy. The survey identified a number of challenges for clinicians, especially non-GI physicians, treating patients with refractory reflux-like symptoms or rGERD on a daily basis.

Laparoscopic magnetic sphincter augmentation device placement for patients with medically-refractory gastroesophageal reflux after sleeve gastrectomy.

The use of the magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) in patients with de novo or persistent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) after sleeve gastrectomy has not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of MSA device placement in improving GERD symptoms and reducing anti-reflux medication usage in patients with persistent or de novo GERD after sleeve gastrectomy. This is a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent laparoscopic MSA device placement between January 2018 and July 2020 after sleeve gastrectomy. A total of twenty-two patients met inclusion criteria. Twenty patients were female (91%) and two patients were male (9%). All patients were taking anti-reflux medications daily to control GERD symptoms prior to MSA device placement. There was a significant improvement in the mean GERD-HRQL survey scores when comparing scores prior to (43.8) and after (16.7) MSA device placement (p < 0.0001). Majority of the patients did well without any post-operative complications (77%). Nearly 82% of patients were no longer taking any anti-acid medications after MSA device placement (p < 0.0485). There were no patients that required MSA device removals. There were no adverse events such as MSA device erosions or device-related mortalities. MSA device placement in patients with medically refractory GERD after sleeve gastrectomy is a safe and viable alternative to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass without conferring additional risks. We show an improvement in reflux symptoms after MSA device placement as evidenced by decreased post-operative GERD-HRQL scores, decreased anti-acid medication usage, and overall patient satisfaction with the procedure. Further prospective and comparative studies with longer term follow-up are needed to validate the use of MSA in patients who have undergone sleeve gastrectomy.

Seronegative Celiac Disease in Patients with Isolated Refractory Dyspepsia and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Background/AimsTo investigate the presence of seronegative celiac disease in patients with isolated refractory dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)-related complaints.MethodsThis was a single-center, prospective study performed at a tertiary care referral hospital. Among 968 consecutive patients, 129 seronegative patients with tissue damage consistent with Marsh IIIa classification or above were included. The patients were divided into two groups dyspepsia (n=78) and GERD (n=51). Biopsies were taken from the duodenum regardless of endoscopic appearance, and patients with Marsh IIIa or above damage were advised to consume a gluten-free diet. The Glasgow Dyspepsia Severity (GDS) score, Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), and Biagi score were calculated at baseline and every 3 months. Control endoscopy was performed every 6 months during follow-up.ResultsThe median follow-up time was 19.9 months (range, 6 to 24 months) in the dyspepsia group and 19.2 months (range, 6 to 24 months) in the GERD group. All the patients were positive for the HLA-DQ2 and DQ8 haplotypes. The differences between the mean GDS scores (14.3±2.1 vs 1.1±0.2, respectively, p<0.05), RSI scores (6.3±0.8 vs 0.7±0.1, respectively, p<0.05), and Biagi scores (3.1±0.4 vs 0.7±0.3 in the dyspepsia group and 2.5±0.4 vs 0.5±0.2 in GERD group) before and after implementation of the gluten-free diet were statistically significant. The decreases in the scores were consistent with improvements in the histological findings. There was no significant correlation between endoscopic appearance and histological examination results (p=0.487).ConclusionsSeronegative celiac disease may be considered in this group of patients. Even if a patient is seronegative and has normal endoscopic findings, duodenal biopsy should be considered.

Role of the Mean Nocturnal Baseline Impedance in Identifying Evidence Against Pathologic Reflux in Patients With Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptoms as Classified by the Lyon Consensus.

Background/AimsMean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) is a new reflux metric for mucosal integrity. It remains unclear whether MNBI can help identify evidence against pathological reflux by the Lyon Consensus in patients with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms.MethodsThree hundred and forty-nine patients with refractory GERD symptoms enrolled in this study were subjected to high-resolution manometry, 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (MII-pH) monitoring, and endoscopy. Conventional indexes (ie, reflux events and acid exposure time) and the novel index (MNBI) of MII-pH monitoring were extracted and analyzed. The value of MNBI in diagnosing patients with evidence against pathologic reflux was evaluated by receiver-operating-characteristic analysis.ResultsThere were 102 (29.2%) patients with evidence against pathologic reflux, 149 (42.7%) with inconclusive or borderline evidence and 98 (28.1%) with conclusive evidence for pathologic reflux. The MNBI was significantly higher while the proportion of pathological MNBI was significantly lower in subjects with evidence against pathologic reflux than in patients with inconclusive or borderline evidence and in patients with conclusive evidence for pathologic reflux (2444.3 [1977.9-2997.4] vs 1992.8 [1615.5-2253.6] and vs 1772.3 [758.6-2161.3], both P < 0.001; 42.2% vs 79.7% and vs 80.0%, both P < 0.05). When identifying evidence against pathologic reflux in patients with refractory GERD symptoms, the MNBI yielded an area under the curve of 0.749 (P < 0.001) at a cut-off value of 1941.8 Ω.ConclusionsThe MNBI has a good diagnostic value for evidence against pathological reflux in patients with refractory GERD symptoms. For its simplicity and reproducibility, we believe that MNBI should be referred to in reports of impedance-pH tracings by physicians.

One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass Revision for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Long Versus Short Biliopancreatic Limb Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

One-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) may be associated with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The nature of this GERD remains unclear. This complication can be treated either with an additional enteroenterostomy without shortening of gastric pouch (long biliopancreatic limb Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (L-BPL-RYGB)) or revision to conventional short biliopancreatic limb Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (S-BPL-RYGB). The objective of this study is to compare the aforementioned procedures in terms of efficacy on GERD symptoms. Retrospective analysis between October 2012 and June 2020. Fifty-two patients underwent OAGB revision to S-BPL-RYGB (n = 21) or L-BPL-RYGB (n = 31) secondary to GERD. Investigation with pH impedance prior to revision was performed in 15 patients showing biliary reflux (BR) in 7 (46.6%), acid reflux (AR) in 6 (40%), and no confirmation in 2. Patients with AR had a revision to S-BPL-RYGB, whereas patients with BR underwent L-BPL-RYGB. Among the patients without pH metry results (n = 37), S-BPL-RYGB was performed for associated disabling digestive disorders or nutritional deficiencies. GERD was treated in 68% of patients with L-BPL-RYGB versus 95% of patients after S-BPL-RYGB. Patients, whose decision for revisional procedure was based on the results of pH impedance testing, did not reveal refractory GERD. L-BPL-RYGB seems appropriate in patients with BR, whereas conversion to S-BPL-RYGB should be preferred if AR is present.

Clinical profile and characteristics of eosinophilic esophagitis patients presenting with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease in Makassar, Indonesia.

Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a typical GERD that does not respond to Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) treatment for 8-12 weeks. One of the differential diagnoses for refractory GERD is eosinophilic esophagitis which is characterized by eosinophilic infiltration into the esophagus endothelium. However, to date, eosinophilic esophagitis is still poorly understood and data is still limited. The aim was to describe the profile and characteristics of patients with eosinophilic esophagitis presenting with refractory GERD in Makassar, Indonesia. This descriptive study involved patients with refractory GERD from two hospitals. In addition to basic demographic data, history, and body mass index, all subjects underwent peripheral blood tests to measure eosinophil level and flexible esophagoscopy, from which esophageal biopsy was done to assess the tissue eosinophil level. Eosinophilic esophagitis was established based on the examination of >15 eosinophils/high power field. Out of 32 subjects, two subjects were diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis (6.3%). Both subjects were male with normal BMI in the age range of 36-55 years and none had peripheral blood eosinophilia. Symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis were similar to refractory GERD. Peripheral blood eosinophilia was not associated with incidence of eosinophilic esophagitis.

Современные аспекты диагностики и лечения рефрактерной гастроэзофагеальной рефлюксной болезни

Objective of the Review: To analyze current data on the diagnosis and treatment of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Key points. Refractory GERD is diagnosed when there is insufficient response to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) twice daily for 8 weeks with the presence of pathological gastroesophageal reflux. Possible mechanisms underlying PPI-refractory symptoms characteristic of GERD include persistence of pathological reflux, esophageal hypersensitivity to reflux, association of symptoms with other diseases, and functional nature of symptoms. To diagnose refractory GERD, a thorough analysis of symptoms, esophagogastroscopy with morphological examination, pH-impedancemetry and esophageal manometry are performed. Treatment includes dietary and lifestyle modifications to reduce body weight in obese patients, optimization of PPI prescribing, use of other drugs, and, if indicated, surgery. Conclusion. Diagnosing the reasons for the decrease in the effectiveness of PPIs in patients with GERD is a complex process that requires the use of modern endoscopic methods with the performance of a morphological study of the esophagus, pH-impedance testing and highresolution manometry to determine the nature of reflux, the relationship of reflux with symptoms of GERD and the differential diagnosis of various GERD syndromes. The choice of therapy for patients with refractory GERD is determined by the results of the examination and the final diagnosis. Keywords: refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease, proton pump inhibitors, diagnosis, treatment.

Complex Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorder posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Diagnosis should be objectively defined with endoscopy and pH testing, while novel metrics may augment diagnosis for inconclusive GERD cases, including the postreflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave index and esophageal mucosal impedance. Conditions that overlap with or mimic GERD should be considered such as achalasia, rumination, and eosinophilic esophagitis. Genetic testing for proton pump inhibitor metabolism is an option for precision therapy in complex persistent GERD. Proton pump inhibitor refractory GERD may require medical, surgical, or endoscopic therapies. The presence of GERD should be objectively evaluated in achalasia patients treated with peroral endoscopic myotomy, and further studies are needed to determine timing of this evaluation. Patients with scleroderma are at a high risk for GERD owing to abnormal esophageal motility and should be managed with aggressive medical therapy and lifestyle changes given the high prevalence of esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus in this population. Further studies are needed to understand the complex mechanisms of GERD in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and lung transplantation.

Antireflux mucosal intervention (ARMI) procedures for refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:Endoscopic treatments are increasingly being offered for refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Three procedures have similar concepts and techniques: antireflux mucosectomy (ARMS), antireflux mucosal ablation (ARMA), and antireflux band ligation (ARBL); we have collectively termed them antireflux mucosal intervention (ARMI). Here, we systematically reviewed the clinical outcomes and technical aspects.Methods:The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception to October 2021. The primary outcome was the clinical success rate. The secondary outcomes were acid exposure time, DeMeester score, need for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), endoscopic findings, and adverse events.Results:Fifteen studies were included. The pooled clinical success rate was 73.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 69%–78%) overall, 68.6% (95% CI = 62.2%–74.4%) with ARMS, 86.7% (95% CI = 78.7%–91.9%) with ARMA, and 76.5% (95% CI = 65%–85.1%) with ARBL. ARMI resulted in significantly improved acid exposure time, DeMeester score, and degree of hiatal hernia. Furthermore, 10% of patients had dysphagia requiring endoscopic dilatation after ARMS or ARMA, and ARMS was associated with a 2.2% perforation rate. By contrast, no bleeding, perforation, or severe dysphagia was noted with ARBL. Severe hiatal hernia (Hill grade III) may predict treatment failure with ARMA.Conclusions:The three ARMI procedures were efficacious and safe for PPI-refractory GERD. ARMA and ARBL may be preferred over ARMS because of fewer adverse events and similar efficacy. Further studies are necessary to determine the optimal technique and patient selection.

Combination of Symptom Profile, Endoscopic Findings, and Esophageal Mucosal Histopathology Helps to Differentiate Achalasia from Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Achalasia, a rare primary esophageal motility disorder, is often misdiagnosed as refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This study is aimed to identify the clinical and histopathologic features that may help to differentiate these two entities. Patients with untreated achalasia and those with refractory reflux symptoms despite ≥8 weeks of proton-pump inhibitor treatment were enrolled prospectively. All patients underwent validated symptom questionnaires, esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy, and high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM). Histopathology of esophageal mucosa was compared based on four pre-determined histological criteria: basal cell hyperplasia or papillae elongation, eosinophilic infiltration, petechiae formation, and hypertrophy of the muscularis mucosae (MM). Compared with the GERD patients, patients with achalasia had similar reflux symptoms, but higher Eckardt scores, fewer erosive esophagitis and hiatal hernia, more esophageal food retention on endoscopy, and higher prevalence of hypertrophy of the MM and petechiae formation on histopathology. Multivariate logistic regression based on Eckardt score ≥4, normal esophagogastric junction morphology or esophageal food retention, and coexistence of petechiae formation and hypertrophy of the MM, established the best prediction model for achalasia. Therefore, combination of routinely accessible variables, including Eckardt score, endoscopic features, and histopathology obtained via esophageal mucosal biopsy, may provide an earlier identification of achalasia.

Magnetic sphincter augmentation in treating refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

In this systematic review and meta-analysis we aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) in the management of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (rGERD). Literature search was conducted in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, OpenGrey and ClincalTrials.gov for single-arm studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of MSA in rGERD or comparative studies with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) or laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) serving as the control published until April 2020. Primary outcome was the rate of postoperative PPI use, and secondary outcomes included postoperative GERD-health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL), normalization of acid exposure time (AET) and incidence of procedure-related adverse events (AE). Ten single-arm studies, one randomized controlled trial and three cohort studies involving 1138 participants were included. Post-MSA PPI withdrawal, significant GERD-HRQL improvement and AET normalization were achieved in 87.0%, 88.0% and 75.0% of the patients, respectively. The incidence of postoperative dysphagia was 29% and endoscopic dilation was required in 7.4% of patients undergoing MSA. MSA showed a better efficacy in symptom control than PPI (PPI cessation: 91% vs 0%; GERD-HRQL improvement: 81% vs 8%) and similar effectiveness but a lower risk of gas-bloat syndrome (risk ratio [RR] 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.51-0.93, P=0.01) and better reserved ability to belch (RR 1.48, 95% CI 0.76-2.86, P=0.25) compared with LNF. MSA was an effective and safe therapy for rGERD. Well-designed randomized trials that compare the efficacy of MSA with other therapies are needed.