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| Medical | |
|
| Advantages | |
| (i) Noninvasive | |
| (ii) Simple and easy to use | |
| (iii) Reproducible effect | |
| (iv) Very effective on symptoms and lesions of GERD | |
| (v) Excellent tolerance and safety profile of PPI | |
| (vi) Relatively cheap especially since the development of PPI generics | |
| Disadvantages | |
| (i) Does not correct underlying pathophysiological mechanisms | |
| (ii) Continuous maintenance therapy frequently required to control the disease | |
| (iii) Persistence of symptoms in at least 10% of patients | |
| (iv) Rare side effects and potential drug-drug interactions | |
|
| Surgery | |
|
| Advantages | |
| (i) The only treatment capable of physically controlling reflux | |
(ii) Very effective (improved quality of heartburn control, reduction of regurgitation, better sleep pattern, increased activities and
exercise, etc.) | |
| (iii) Avoids the need to take medication | |
| (iv) Psychological effects of not having chronic disease | |
| (v) Particular clinical groups of cystic fibrosis, lung transplant, and congenital hernia | |
| Disadvantages | |
| (i) Invasive | |
| (ii) Small risk of mortality | |
| (iii) Measurable postoperative mortality | |
| (iv) Recurrence is possible | |
|