ASGE Masterclass: Barrett’s Esophagus, GERD and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma (Virtual) | February 2022-The Best and Worst of PPIs: Pearls in medical management of GERD

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In the video entitled "The Best and Worst of PPIs: Pearls in the Medical Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux," the speaker discusses the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the management of GERD. PPIs are commonly prescribed medications that block acid secretion in the stomach. They are effective in healing erosive esophagitis, with Nexium showing slightly better results compared to other PPIs. However, PPIs are not as effective in healing more severe cases of esophagitis. Symptom resolution does not always correlate with healing. The speaker also discusses the potential adverse effects of PPIs, including cardiovascular events, chronic kidney disease, dementia, and increased risk of infections. However, the evidence for these associations is largely from observational studies and may be confounded by other factors. The speaker presents recent studies that suggest PPIs have a low risk of side effects, including those related to cardiovascular events and interactions with medications like clopidogrel. Lifestyle modifications, other medications like H2 blockers and prokinetics, and new potassium channel acid blockers are also briefly discussed as alternative or adjunct therapies for GERD. Overall, PPIs are generally safe and can improve the quality of life for patients with GERD.

Keywords

PPIs

proton pump inhibitors

GERD

acid secretion

erosive esophagitis

Nexium