Management of severe gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects more than one third of the population. It is generally a chronic condition and has the potential to be serious. Some patients with GERD experience persistent daytime or nighttime heartburn and some sustain severe damage, including ulceration, stricture, and Barrett's esophagus, which can predispose to development of adenocarcinoma. Extraesophageal manifestations of GERD can include otolaryngologic, respiratory, and cardiac problems. Severe GERD responds best to agents that suppress gastric acid secretion. Of these, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) provide the most effective control of gastric acidity and are, therefore, the medical treatment of choice. In fact, nonresponse to a PPI should raise the suspicion that the diagnosis is not GERD. Proton pump inhibitors are quickly becoming the treatment of choice for GERD, especially for severe or refractory cases. For patients whose GERD is refractory even to PPIs or who are unwilling to face years of PPI therapy, antireflux surgery remains an option.