New Guidelines for GERD Management Published

Gstaad Treatment Guidelines has been updated for the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The new guidelines are separated into self-care, primary care, and secondary care levels, with clear recommendations for each level of care.

The international panel, headed by G Tytgat, from Academisch Medisch Centrum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, says: "The newly developed algorithm takes into account latest clinical practice experience, offering healthcare professionals clear and effective treatment options for the management of GERD."

These new guidelines include:

Making sure patients know the importance of self-care in the minimizing of sporadic breakthroughs of reflux symptoms. These include monitoring meal size and timing of meals, not lying down after a meal, and lying in positions with the head in an elevated position.

Within primary care, patients who fail to respond to full-dose PPIs, with or without additional therapies, may benefit from step-up therapy to twice daily dosages of PPIs.

Failure to respond to the increased dose should prompt consideration of an alternative diagnosis.

A step-down approach should be implemented for patients who respond to single-dose PPIs.

For complex cases, alternative diagnoses should be considered and severe symptoms need further investigation.

Related Resources:

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
• Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (Refractory GERD)
• Nonerosive Reflux Disease (NERD)