title: Basic considerations in gastroesophageal reflux disease.
abstract: The cause of foregut symptoms is often quite uncertain until a comprehensive evaluation has been performed. The critical elements of this evaluation include historic, radiographic, endoscopic, and physiologic data, and most importantly, the insight of a mature diagnostician. Patients who are not evaluated in a comprehensive way are at risk for serious postoperative problems; surgeons who perform interventions without appropriate diagnostic support may have to deal with these unhappy patients. In the long run, a complete workup provides the guidance for treatment and is cost-effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Donahue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006551:Hernia, Hiatal / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008365:Manometry; D011312:Pressure