O C T O B E R 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 0 7
T
he number of treatment options available to the estimat-
ed 50 million Americans suffering with gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD) is growing. There are now 3 FDA-
approved endoscopic therapies and 2 minimally invasive
surgical procedures. At least one other new procedure is
in the pipeline, awaiting FDA approval. But it's important to note that
as promising and potentially effective as some or all of these treat-
ments may end up being, for most patients they shouldn't be the first
Your Best
Treatment Options for GERD
• GERD WATCHING Dr. Fass and his staff examine a high-resolution esophageal manometry image to determine whether there
are abnormalities in a patient's upper esophageal sphincter.
Several possible interventions are available. Here are some factors
to consider.
Ronnie Fass, MD, FACG | Cleveland, Ohio
Brian
Kauffman,
MetroHealth
Medical
Center