Curbside Consultation in GERD: 49 Clinical Questions

Are you looking for concise, practical answers to questions that are often left unanswered by traditional GERD references? Are you seeking brief, evidence-based advice for complicated cases or complications? Curbside Consultation in GERD: 49 Clinical Questions provides quick and direct answers to the thorny questions commonly posed during a “curbside consultation” between colleagues.

Dr. Philip Katz has designed this unique reference, which offers expert advice, preferences, and opinions on tough clinical questions commonly associated with GERD. The unique Q&A format provides quick access to current information related to GERD with the simplicity of a conversation between two colleagues. Numerous images, diagrams, and references are included to enhance the text and to illustrate the treatment of GERD patients.

Curbside Consultation in GERD: 49 Clinical Questions provides information basic enough for residents while also incorporating expert advice that even high-volume clinicians will appreciate. Gastroenterologists, fellows and residents in training, surgical attendings, and surgical residents will benefit from the user-friendly and casual format and the expert advice contained within.

Some of the questions that are answered:

• Can medical therapy alter the natural history of Barrett's esophagus?
• Can antireflux surgery alter the natural history of Barrett's esophagus?
• How does pregnancy affect GERD? Is GERD in pregnancy a risk for long-term reflux?
• What is the association of obesity and GERD?
• What are the so-called extraesophageal manifestations of GERD?
• Is there a gender difference in reflux disease? Does this affect treatment?

Read what Gastroenterology has to say about the book:

"…Dr. Katz provides very clear, easy-to-follow, and evidence-based answers to each question. He does not shy away from tough clinical questions that occasionally do not have simple or straightforward answers. He attempts to weight all possible options while at the same time offering a clear diagnostic and/or therapeutic approach."

"…The simple arrangement of the content, in a question-answer format, makes the book very attractive for a busy gastroenterologist and potentially other health care personnel who work in the GI field, such as surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and even primary care physicians."

"…Bottom Line: This is an excellent book that is likely to be utilized daily. Its small size makes it easy to carry. This new book style represents a refreshing attempt to make medical textbooks more user friendly and part of the doctor's daily source of medical information."

— Ronnie Fass, Neuroenteric Clinical Research Group, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, and University of Arizona, Tucson, AR, Gastroenterology

http://www.curbsideconsultations.com

About the Author

Philip O. Katz, MD, FACG is Chairman of the Division of Gastroenterology at Albert Einstein Medical Center and Clinical Professor of Medicine at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA. He is also Associate Program Director of the Department of Medicine at Albert Einstein Medical Center.

Dr. Katz received his medical degree from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. He served his residency and chief residency in internal medicine, followed by a fellowship in gastroenterology at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine. He completed a faculty development fellowship at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology.

Dr. Katz is currently Vice President of the American College of Gastroenterology and is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

A recognized national authority on esophageal disease, Dr. Katz's research interests include all aspects of gastroesophageal reflux disease, including nocturnal recovery of gastric acid secretion during proton pump inhibitor therapy and esophageal pain perception. Dr. Katz is a practicing clinician with active teaching and editorial positions. In addition to lecturing on many gastroenterology-related topics, Dr. Katz is Associate Editor for Reviews in Gastrointestinal Disorders (Med Reviews) and an editorial reviewer for Annals of Internal Medicine, American Journal of Gastroenterology, Gastroenterology, and Digestive Diseases and Sciences. He has contributed to the publication of over 120 peer-reviewed papers as well as numerous abstracts, books, book chapters, and monographs.

Contents

Dedication
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Question 1. Mr. Smith Is a 52-Year-Old Man Who Has Never Been on PPI Therapy. After an ED visit for Chest Pain, He Is Found to Have Grade D Erosive Esophagitis. I Have Started Omeprazole 40 mg Daily, and His Symptoms Have Resolved. Does He Need a Follow-Up Endoscopy?

Question 2. What Are the Indications for Endoscopy in Patients With Classic Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease?

Question 3. Ms. Jones Is a 45-Year-Old School Teacher Who Has Reflux Controlled on BID Omeprazole. She Does Not Like to Take Medications and Would Like to Consider Fundoplication. Is This Reasonable Given Her Good Response to PPI therapy?

Question 4. How Important Is Surgeon Selection in Antireflux Surgery? Is the Laparoscopic Approach Now Standard of Care for a Nissen Fundoplication?

Question 5. A 55-Year-Old Man Is Referred for Evaluation for Antireflux Surgery. What Is the Appropriate Preoperative Evaluation of This Patient? Is Esophageal Function Testing (Manometry) Needed?

Question 6. What Are the Indications for 24-Hour Ambulatory pH Monitoring? Which of My Patients Should Have This Study “On Medications” Versus “Off Medications”?

Question 7. My Patient Has Dysphonia That I Believe is Due to Reflux, but Her 24-Hour pH Probe on BID Pantoprazole Was Negative. Are There Other Reflux Tests That I Should Consider?

Question 8. Mr. Jones Has Classic Reflux Symptoms Even While Taking BID Esomeprazole. I Have Considered a pH Probe With Impedance to Document Non-Acid Reflux, but I Am Wondering What Therapy I Can Provide Even if This Test Is Conclusive?

Question 9. What Is the Role of Dietary Modification in the Management of Patients with Reflux?

Question 10. Are Any Specific Lifestyle Changes Better Than Others?

Question 11. What Is the Optimal Use of Over-the-Counter Antacids and H₂ Receptor Antagonists in the Management of Reflux Patients?

Question 12. Dr. Smith Suggested That I Add Ranitidine 150 mg at Bedtime to a Regimen of BID Esomeprazole. Is There Any Evidence That This Helps Patients With Symptoms of GERD?

Question 13. Is an Empiric Trial of PPI Therapy Efficacious in Patients With Suspected GERD? In What Circumstances?

Question 14. What Are the Choices for Therapeutic Trials (Doses and Length of Trial) in Patients with Reflux Symptoms? Does This Mean That You Stop PPIs if They Are Not Effective?

Question 15. What Is the Mechanism of Action of Antisecretory Therapy for GERD?

Question 16. A Pharmaceutical Rep Tells Me that PPIs Often Fail Because Patients Do Not Take Them as Directed. Is It True That Some PPIs Need to Be Given Before Meals, but Others Do Not?

Question 17. What Are the So-Called Extraesophageal Manifestations of GERD?

Question 18. Is the Diagnostic Approach to GERD Patients Different Than Patients With Typical Symptoms of Heartburn and Regurgitation?

Question 19. Are the Therapeutic Choices Different for These Patients and, If So, How?

Question 20. A Patient With Long-Standing GERD Is Asymptomatic on a Once-Daily PPI. He Wants to Know if He Needs to Take His Medication “for the Rest of His Life.” Address the Long-Term Maintenance Therapy for GERD.

Question 21. What Is the Role of an On-Demand Treatment in Maintenance? Who Is the Best Candidate?

Question 22. What Is the Role of Prokinetic Agents in the Treatment of GERD, and How Do I Know Which One to Use?

Question 23. A Patient With Classic GERD Symptoms Is Unhappy With His Current Treatment. What Is the Approach to a Patient With Continued Symptoms on Once-Daily PPI? On Twice-Daily Proton Pump Inhibitor?

Question 24. What Are the Short- and Long-Term Risks of Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy? Are Any Risks of Clinical Importance?

Question 25. A 42-Year-Old Man Who Does Not Use Tobacco or Alcohol but Has Chronic Reflux Presents for Evaluation and Wants to Know If He Is at Risk for Esophageal Cancer. What Do I Tell Him? Does His Risk Change if His Symptoms Are Effectively Relieved With PPI Therapy?

Question 26. Who Is at Risk for Barrett's Esophagus? Do African Americans Need to Worry About Barrett's Esophagus?

Question 27. Should Patients Be Screened for Barrett's? Are There Patients Who Need Not Be Screened?

Question 28. Are the Pharmacologic Options for Barrett's Different from GERD? Have PPIs Been Shown to Have Any Effect on Barrett's (Either Prevention or Therapy)?

Question 29. Mr. Smith Has No Reflux Symptoms but Underwent Upper Endoscopy as Part of a Celiac Sprue Evaluation. He Was Found to Have a 5-mm Segment of Columnar-Lined Esophagus Without Nodularity. Biopsies Showed Intestinal Metaplasia but No Dysplasia. What Is the Appropriate Follow-Up?

Question 30. Should Endoscopic Surveillance Be Performed in a Patient with Barrett's? If So, How?

Question 31. What Are the Management Options for Dysplasia in Patients With Barrett's Esophagus, Specifically High-Grade Dysplasia?

Question 32. A Patient With Long-Standing GERD Does Not Wish to Take Long-Term Medical Therapy and Inquires About the Options for Treatment. He Wonders if There Is Something He Can Do Other Than Antireflux Surgery? Is There a Role for Endoscopic Therapy for GERD?

Question 33. Are There Differences Among PPIs in Clinical Practice? Should I Ever Consider Switching Among Different PPIs for Patients Who Fail to Respond?

Question 34. Is There a Role for a Combination of Proton Pump Inhibitors and H₂ Receptor Antagonists in a Patient with GERD?

Question 35. What Is Nocturnal Acid Breakthrough, and What Is Its Clinical Importance? Is Zegerid Really Any More Effective in This Group?

Question 36. What Is the Role of Helicobacter pylori in GERD? Do All Patients with GERD Need to Be Tested for Helicobacter pylori?

Question 37. Ms. Smith Went to the ER with Chest Pain That Was Determined to Be Noncardiac. Serologies for H. pylori Were Found to Be Positive in the ED. I Have Considered Treating Her but Have Heard That This May Worsen Her Reflux. What Should I Do?

Question 38. Can Medical Therapy Alter the Natural History of Barrett's Eso-phagus?

Question 39. Can Antireflux Surgery Alter the Natural History of Barrett's Esophagus?

Question 40. Do Either Medical Therapy or Antireflux Surgery Reduce the Risk of or Prevent the Development of Esophageal Cancer?

Question 41. How Does Pregnancy Affect GERD? Is GERD in Pregnancy a Risk for Long-Term Reflux?

Question 42. What Are the Treatment Options for GERD in Pregnancy?

Question 43. A 45-Year-Old Gentleman Comes to You Following a Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication 5 Years Ago. He Now Has Recurrent GERD Symptoms. How Common Is This?

Question 44. What Is the Association of Obesity and GERD?

Question 45. Is Bariatric Surgery Good for Reflux?

Question 46. Is There a Gender Difference in Reflux Disease? Does This Affect Treatment?

Question 47. What Are the Ethnic Differences in GERD Presentations?

Question 48. Which Patients With Barrett's Should Be Referred for Photodynamic Therapy?

Question 49. I Know That Reflux and Eosinophilic Esophagitis Can Lead to Dysphagia and Eosinophils on Esophageal Biopsy. How Do I Differentiate These Two Diseases?

Index