Gut Liver.  2013 May;7(3):290-294. 10.5009/gnl.2013.7.3.290.

Management of Asymptomatic Erosive Esophagitis: An E-Mail Survey of Physician's Opinions

• Lim SW
• Lee JH
• Kim JH
• Kim JH
• Kim HU
• Jeon SW

• KMID: 1431342
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5009/gnl.2013.7.3.290

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The management of asymptomatic erosive esophagitis is controversial. We surveyed physicians' opinions on asymptomatic erosive esophagitis using e-mail.
METHODS
All members of the Korean Society of Neurogastro-enterology and Motility were invited to answer the questionnaire on the treatment and follow-up of patients with asymptomatic erosive esophagitis by e-mail.
RESULTS
A total of 73 members answered the questionnaire (response rate, 18%). As initial management, 41% of respondents chose pharmacologic treatment, whereas 59% chose nonpharmacologic treatment. In the case of pharmacologic treatment, proton pump inhibitors were the preferred medication. The most common treatment duration was 4 weeks (43%), followed by 8 weeks (38%), and 6 months (11%). Sixty-two percent of the respondents recommended follow-up endoscopy annually, whereas 29% chose no endoscopic follow-up. Thirty-four percent of the respondents answered that they would talk about reflux-related sleep disturbances. Only 25% of the respondents explained the possibility of Barrett's esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma to their patients.
CONCLUSIONS
There are substantial practice variations in the management of asymptomatic erosive esophagitis in Korea.

Keyword

Esophagitis; Endoscopy; Asymptomatic diseases; Therapeutics

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma
Asymptomatic Diseases
Barrett Esophagus
Data Collection
Electronic Mail
Endoscopy
Esophagitis
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Korea
Proton Pump Inhibitors
Questionnaires
Proton Pump Inhibitors