GASTROENTEROLOGY ARTICLE OF THE WEEK
February 21, 2002
Lehman GA. Endoscopic therapy for GERD. Clinical Update 2001;9:2:1-4
1. Plication of the gastric cardia to treat GERD
a. Is a simple procedure that can be done with minimal sedation
b. Requires the passage of a 19mm overtube
c. Normalizes total reflux time in patients treated
d. Is particularly useful for patients with large hiatal hernias
e. results in a significant increase in LES pressure
True or False
2. Long term results from cardia plication are encouraging
3. Endoscopic procedures to treat GERD appear to yield superior symptomatic relief compared to objective decrease in reflux parameters
4. The endoscopic sewing machine to plicate the gastric cardia has not been approved by the FDA
5. There is no long-term efficacy data with the use of the endoscopic sewing machine to treat GERD
6. The radiofrequency energy current causes a thermal injury of the mucosa which is painless
7. Major complication rates of both the placation and radiofrequency treatments range from 0.3% to 0.4%
8. Use of bulking agents to treat GERD is not currently FDA approved