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Advances in diagnosing GERD

Which examinations should be performed before interventional therapy?

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Summary

Background

This article aims to summarize the current technology available for evaluating esophageal function and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and to assess which of these examinations are necessary before antireflux surgery.

Methods

The Medline database was queried to identify relevant published information.

Results

Esophageal function testing is a useful adjunct to confirm or reject the diagnosis of GERD. Emerging technologies and new diagnostic methods may provide a better sensitivity in diagnosing GERD symptoms and could help in finding the right treatment for each patient. However, studies are needed to prove that these new tests truly add essential information.

Conclusion

Of the current available methods to identify the right treatment for each patient with symptoms of GERD, ambulatory reflux monitoring is still the most important one. Optimal preoperative diagnostic work-up for GERD should include pH testing along with upper endoscopy, barium esophagram, and manometry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Sisters of Charity Hospital, 4010, Linz, Austria

    Oliver Owen Koch MD

  2. Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Heraklion, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece

    Stavros A. Antoniou MD

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  1. Oliver Owen Koch MD
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Correspondence to Oliver Owen Koch MD.

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Conflict of interest

O.O. Koch and S.A. Antoniou declare that they have no competing interests.

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Koch, O.O., Antoniou, S.A. Advances in diagnosing GERD. Eur Surg 48, 203–208 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10353-016-0435-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10353-016-0435-z

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