Esophageal cancer is most often caused by either squamous cell carcinoma along the inner lining of the esophagus or by adenocarcinoma, malignant tumors of the gland cells. Adenocarcinoma is occurring more often in patients and is closely linked to acid reflux and reflux related disorders.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
HealthDay reports 78% increased risk of cancer in GERD patients, but simple antacids appear to lower the risk, researchers report
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
As reported by Medscape, according to research presented at the Digestive Disease Week meeting, “patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) might benefit more from transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) than from continued treatment with proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs).” The study’s lead author Karim Trad, MD, said, “In this study, transoral incisionless fundoplication was superior to maximal-dose PPIs in eliminating daily troublesome typical and atypical symptoms in selected patients.” Dr. Trad added that the findings “establish for the first time that, for some patients, the procedure is better than maximal-dose PPI therapy for controlling a range of GERD symptoms.”
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
hiatal hernia, fundoplication, LINX, GERD, atypical reflux, EsophyX, incisionless surgery, esophageal cancer
So, you think you have acid reflux? What is acid reflux? Why is it called acid reflux?
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
Obesity, GERD, atypical reflux, nonacid reflux, heartburn, EsophyX, incisionless surgery, Barrett's Esophagus
A new laparoscopic therapy for reflux has been recently approved for the treat of reflux. The procedure requires laparoscopic surgery (small incisions in the abdomen) in order to place this new device at the level of the lower esophageal sphincter. Certain limitations will occur as the result of this procedure as will be discussed.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
Reflux, hiatal hernia, TIF, LINX, GERD, atypical reflux, heartburn, EsophyX, Barrett's Esophagus
Several news agencies recently reported concerns of the FDA over the increased risk of Clostridium difficle diarrheal illness in patients using acid lowering antireflux drugs in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
A six-month follow up of 12 people with GERD and six others who were not suffering from the condition showed that those with acid reflux had much worse tooth wear and erosion.
Tooth erosion may naturally occur due to chewing but about half of GERD patients had tooth wear and erosion several times higher than the healthy counterparts, says the report inJournal of the American Dental Association.
The acid from the stomach is strong enough “to dissolve the tooth surface directly, or soften the tooth surface, which is later worn down layer by layer,” said lead author Dr. Daranee Tantbirojn of the University of Tennessee.
“The damage from acid reflux looks like tooth wear -- the tooth is flattened, thin, sharp or has a crater or cupping.”
Saliva acts as a defense mechanism because its buffering capacity helps protecting teeth in neutralizing acid, but it cannot fully protect teeth against all acid condition in mouth formed after eating and drinking or due to acid reflux from stomach.
Researchers suggested people with acid reflux to follow some measures to lower their teeth damage. They, for instance, should avoid brushing their teeth immediately after an acid reflux episode and use a fluoride rinse instead.
Using Xylitol chewing gum and taking baking soda or antacids after acid reflux episodes can also protect teeth against erosion.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
By Salynn Boyles
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
On September 7th and October 13th, 2011, the first two combined laparoscopic and transoral antireflux procedures were performed at the New York Univerisity Langone Medical Center in New York City.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
Reflux, hiatal hernia, TIF, fundoplication, GERD, LPR, atypical reflux, heartburn, EsophyX, Barrett's Esophagus
In a retrospective study from Japan, the chronic use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), often used in the treatment of GERD, was found to be associated with a greater than 3-fold increased risk of developing Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD), Takatoshi Kitazawa, MD, assistant professor at Teikyo University in Tokyo, Japan, reported during a poster session at the 51st Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
