Endoscopic Treatments of GERD

Endoscopic Non-ablative Radiofrequency Treatment (Stretta) for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is very common in the general population and poses a large societal socio-economic burden. In this article, we review the evidence supporting non-ablative radiofrequency treatment (Stretta) for the endoscopic management of GERD and we compare it to pharmacologic and other minimally invasive and surgical interventions.

RECENT FINDINGS

Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are a key therapy for GERD. For patients without associated significant sliding hiatal hernia, who have inadequate relief of their reflux symptoms, Stretta and other endoscopic therapies, such as transoral fundoplication (TIF), may improve symptoms and GERD-related quality of life. Unfortunately, there are no recent large randomized controlled trials, and most of the evidence is based on meta-analyses and small scale, prospective and retrospective single center efforts. Comparisons of Stretta efficacy to other anti-reflux endoscopic modalities and anti-reflux surgery (ARS) are also presented. There are several endoscopic and minimally invasive modalities to manage PPI-refractory GERD acting through various mechanisms that have been found effective in managing GERD symptoms and quality of life. Among them, Stretta has the longest track record of efficacy and safety. Larger-scale and longer-term comparative efficacy trials in selected populations of patients with acid reflux with and without hiatal hernia will be needed.

New Perspectives in Endoscopic Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease has a high incidence and prevalence in the general population. Clinical manifestations are heterogenous, and so is the response to medical treatment. Proton pump inhibitors are still the most common agents used to control reflux symptoms and for healing esophagitis, but they are not a one-size-fits-all solution for the disease. Patients with persistent troublesome symptoms despite medical therapy, those experiencing some adverse drug reaction, or those unwilling to take lifelong medications deserve valid alternatives. Anti-reflux Nissen fundoplication is an effective option, but the risk of adverse events has limited its spread. In recent years, advancements in therapeutic endoscopy have been made, and three major endoluminal alternatives are now available, including (1) the delivery of radiofrequency energy to the esophago-gastric junction, (2) transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF), and (3) anti-reflux mucosal interventions (ARMI) based on mucosal resection (ARMS) and mucosal ablation (ARMA) techniques to remodel the cardia. Endoscopic techniques have shown interesting results, but their diffusion is still limited to expert endoscopists in tertiary centers. This review discusses the state of the art in the endoscopic approach to gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Endoscopic Treatment of Reflux: A Comprehensive Review

The last decade has seen the rise of multiple novel endoscopic techniques to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, many of which are efficacious when compared with traditional surgical options and allow relief from long-term dependence on antacid medications. This review will explore the latest endoscopic treatment options for gastroesophageal reflux disease including a description of the technique, review of efficacy and safety, and future directions.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease: When East meets West

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common worldwide and poses a huge challenge to health. Consensuses and guidelines on the diagnosis and management of GERD in China and the USA have recently been updated. The divergence between these guidelines indicates the differences in the conception of this disease by experts in different countries, and is influenced by available medications and interventional procedures. Prompt endoscopy has been advocated in China due to a high prevalence of upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, while endoscopy has been reserved for those who are at a risk of malignancy or who are reisitant to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the USA. A potassium channel acid-blocker is widely used in Asian countries and has proven efficacy. Moreover, it has been recommended, together with PPIs, as a primary therapy for GERD in China; while PPI alone is recommended as a first-line treatment in the USA. Although more prokinetics are available in China than in the USA and can alleviate GERD symptoms when combined with PPI, the choice of prokinetics is limited in the USA, leading to completely opposite attitudes to prokinetics in the two countries. Novel anti-reflux procedures have been introduced in both countries. Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) is recommended as an endoscopic anti-reflux procedure, and magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) is recognized as equivocal to conventional laparoscopic fundoplication in the USA. However, radiofrequency ablation is more popular in China, and clinical trials on TIF and MSA are not complete, which results in diverse opinions about suitable anti-reflux procedures in China. A comparison of the guidelines may therefore shed light on the multiple dimensions of GERD and thus deepen our understanding of the disease.