Durability of Stretta Radiofrequency Treatment for GERD: Results of an 8-Year Follow-Up.

From June 2002 to March 2013 26 patients that underwent Stretta procedure (16 females, 10 males) reached to date an eight-year follow-up. Primary end point of the study was to verify the durability of the procedure at this time. All patients underwent clinical evaluation by upper endoscopy, oesophageal pressure, and pH studies.

Long-Term Results of Radiofrequency Energy Delivery for the Treatment of GERD: Results of a Prospective 48-Month Study.

Since 2000, radiofrequency (RF) energy treatment has been increasingly offered as an alternative option to invasive surgical procedures for selected patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Out of 69 patients treated since June 2002 to December 2007 with the Stretta procedure, 56 of them reached by the end of 2010 a 48-month followup. RF treatment significantly improved heartburn scores, GERD-specific quality of life scores, and general quality of life scores at 24 and 48 months in 52 out of 56 patients (92,8%).

Achalasia.

Achalasia is a rare motor disorder of the esophagus, characterized by the absence of peristalsis and impaired swallow-induced relaxation. These motor abnormalities result in stasis of ingested food in the esophagus, leading to clinical symptoms, such as dysphagia, regurgitation of food, retrosternal pain and weight loss. Etiology is unknown.

The diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is known to cause erosive esophagitis, Barrett esophagus and has been linked to the development of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Currently, endoscopy is the main clinical tool for visualizing esophageal lesions, but the majority of GERD patients do not have endoscopic visible lesions and other methods are required. Ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring is the gold standard in diagnosing GERD, since it measures distal esophageal acid exposure and demonstrates the relationship between symptoms and acid reflux.

Botulinum toxin treatment of oesophageal achalasia in the old old and oldest old: a 1-year follow-up study.

Background: Intrasphincteric injection of botulinum toxin (BTX) has become one of the most frequent therapeutic approaches for the treatment of oesophageal achalasia. This treatment seems particularly effective in elderly patients who are not candidates for more invasive procedures.

Aims: There are few or no data on BTX treatment of achalasia in the old old and oldest old.