Commentary on the Multi-society Consensus Conference and Guideline on the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) continues to be one of the most common problems encountered by physicians around the world. It is a vexing, protean disease, and given its increasing prevalence, systematic approaches to treatment are ideal to help improve symptoms, reduce longterm consequences of reflux, and reduce the financial burden associated with this disease. Recently, a multi-society consensus conference was assembled to better streamline workup and treatment recommendations in those with reflux disease. Specifically, experts from various societies collaborated and determined common clinical questions encountered with GERD and conducted a systematic review of the literature that would best answer these questions. The purpose of this editorial is to give the perspectives of this consensus by the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT) representatives to this process.The consensus conference was proposed by the incumbent president of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), Dr. Jeffrey Marks. The following societies, in addition to SSAT and SAGES, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES), and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) agreed to participate in the consensus conference. Each conference provided senior and junior member experts in the field of GERD.