Medical Evaluation for Patients with Symptomatic Esophageal Disease

We describe the evaluation and initial management of key symptoms prevalent in esophageal disease. Heartburn and regurgitation are two symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the most common outpatient gastrointestinal disease. The initial diagnostic and therapeutic step in management of these hallmark GERD symptoms is an empiric trial of acid suppression therapy, as a response to this is sufficient to diagnose GERD. Patients with symptoms refractory to empiric therapy and those who endorse accompanying alarm symptoms such as dysphagia, melena, anemia, or weight loss need an upper endoscopy to rule out more concerning etiologies such as esophageal or gastric carcinoma.
Source: Techniques in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research