A consensus disentanglement panel ...

A consensus disentanglement panel of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has issued recommendations forward the management of gastroesophageal ebb disease (GERD). The monograph "Improving the Management of GERD: Evidence-Based Therapeutic Strategies" is available online at www.gastro.org/phys-sci/edu-cme/GERD monograph.pdf.

The panel reviewed data upon over-the-counter drugs used to treat symptoms of GERD and conclud that all fruitss have been proved effective, to varying orders in relieving mild to moderate GERD when compared with placebo. A review of randomized controll trials (RCTs) that compared pair or more proton pump inhibitors lay the foundation of minimal clinical differences between the remedys Omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, and rabeprazole all bring out comparable rates of healing and remission in patients with erosive esophagitis.

The panel rest that the incidence of adenocarcinoma in patients with Barrett's esophagus is about 05 percent through year, rather than the previously notion rate of 1 to 2 percent by year. Although nearly all esophageal adenocarcinomas take place in patients with Barrett's esophagus, principally patients with this condition will in no degree develop this tumor, especially if the stretch of metaplasia is less than 3 cm

It was notion that surgical fundoplication can preclude esophageal cancer by preventing acid ebb However, data show that the rate of esophageal cancer is similar in patients who are treated surgically and those who are not.

Use of sum of two units new endoscopic procedures for treating GERD is increasing despite a lack of data about their efficacy. The panel institute that there is currently no adequate data from RCT to support endoscopic/intraluminal therapies. Physicians and the public should be educated about the risks and limitations of these therapies.

Epidemiologic studies consistently point out modest but significant associations between pulmonary symptoms like as asthma and cough, further there is insufficient data to infer a causal relationship. There is evidence that GERD therapy can improve symptoms, however, lung function proofs do not improve.

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group