7 recent reports on the esophagus
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Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease presents the following reports on the most recent research on the esophagus and GERD.
These reports include new research on reflux management, as well as endoscopic treatments for esophageal disorders like achalasia and Barrett’s esophagus.
Drinking water instead of coffee, tea, soda may reduce reflux
Replacing a few servings per day of either coffee, tea or soda with water may reduce risk for symptoms of GERD, according to study results.
Andrew T. Chan, MD, MPH, of the clinical and translational epidemiology unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, and colleagues wrote that it is unclear what role drinks have on gastroesophageal reflux, but it is a common topic among physicians and their patients. READ MORE
POEM more effective than previous estimates for achalasia
Peroral endoscopic myotomy is highly safe and effective for at least 1 year for the treatment of achalasia and outperformed previous efficacy estimates, according to study results.
Haruhiro Inoue, MD, PhD, of the digestive disease center at Showa University Koto-Toyosu Hospital in Japan, and colleagues wrote that previous studies have found that POEM has a therapeutic efficacy — defined as an Eckardt score no greater than 3 — between 82% and 95% after 1 year. READ MORE
AI bests non-expert endoscopists in Barrett’s neoplasia detection
Researchers developed a deep-learning, computer aided system that detected neoplasia in patients with Barrett’s esophagus at a better rate than nonspecialized endoscopists, according to study results.
J.J. Bergman, MD, PhD, and colleagues wrote that technological improvements have aided the detection of neoplasia, but detection failure is still not uncommon, particularly among some groups of clinicians. READ MORE
WATS brush effective for upper GI biopsies
Biopsies using a wide-area transepithelial sampling brush helped diagnose intestinal metaplasia in patients with no prior history, according to study results presented at the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting.
“Studies have shown that adding WATS to biopsy increases the detection rate for dysplasia and cancer compared to biopsies alone, Steven DeMeester, MD, FACG, of The Oregon Clinic, said in his presentation. “The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of detection of intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia from biopsies vs. WATS.” READ MORE
GI-supervised weight loss program leads to weight loss in GERD, NAFLD
A comprehensive gastroenterologist-supervised weight management program that includes nutrition education and behavioral support groups may lead to significant weight loss in patients with obesity with non-alcoholic fatty liver and GERD, according to findings presented at the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting.
Naresh T. Gunaratnam , MD, and colleagues evaluated the outcomes of a weight loss program aimed at achieving a 10% total body weight loss at 3 months, which are known determinants of improved GERD and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). READ MORE
Endoscopic submucosal dissection lowers recurrence rates in Barrett’s early neoplasia
Treatment with endoscopic submucosal dissection helped lower recurrence rates and reduce the need for repeat treatment in patients with Barrett’s esophagus-associated early neoplasia, according to study results presented at the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting.
Lady Katherine Mejia Perez, MD, of Cleveland Clinic Foundation, said that while en bloc resection and R0 resection are associated with recurrence rates in gastric cancer and other conditions, their role in Barrett’s-related neoplasia are unclear. READ MORE
Few patients truly have PPI-refractory heartburn caused by GERD, researchers learn
Researchers recently conducted a randomized trial of treatments for patients with heartburn who were not responsive to proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, but it turns out that GERD caused heartburn in only a minority of patients. For that select group, surgery was superior to medical treatment, they said.
“The best medical treatment that we have for GERD are the PPIs,” Stuart J. Spechler, MD, co-director of the Center for Esophageal Diseases at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, told Healio. “They are the most powerful acid-suppressants and considered the mainstay of treatment for GERD. But up to 40% of patients who take a PPI complain of persistent symptoms like heartburn. One of the most frequent reasons to refer a patient to a gastroenterologist is because of this PPI-refractory GERD.” READ MORE