Symptom priority ranking in the care of gastroesophageal reflux: a review of 1,850 cases.
BACKGROUND
Clinical history remains an important part of the medical evaluation of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn, regurgitation, and dysphagia are considered typical symptoms of GERD. Priority rankings of these symptoms can be determined with a standardized questionnaire.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether symptom priority ranking and symptom severity grading can provide useful information in the evaluation of patients with GERD.


METHODS
From 1,850 patients that were analyzed retrospectively, patients with dysphagia unrelated to GERD were excluded. A standardized questionnaire was applied before each patient underwent any esophageal diagnostic study. Priority of symptoms was determined to be primary, secondary, tertiary, or none based on the patient response to the questionnaire. Presence of a stricture was determined either by endoscopy, esophagraphy, or both studies. Stationary esophageal manometry and 24-hour pH monitoring were performed on all patients. Through bivariate and multivariate analysis, the relationships among typical GERD symptoms, esophageal reflux-related stenosis, lower esophageal sphincter pressure, and composite score were established.


RESULTS
High priority ranking of the symptom dysphagia is predictive of the presence of an esophageal stricture, but has a negative association with abnormal manometric and pH studies. In contrast, high priority ranking of the symptom heartburn and regurgitation are positively associated with abnormal manometric and pH results.


CONCLUSIONS
Priority ranking can be a valuable adjunct to objective testing in the evaluation of GERD. In certain clinical situations it can obviate the need for 24-hour pH monitoring.
Martinez-Serna
T
T
Department of Surgery, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebr., USA.
Tercero
F
F
Filipi
C J
CJ
Dickason
T J
TJ
Watson
P
P
Mittal
S K
SK
Tasset
M R
MR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012042:Registries; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index