Respiratory Complications of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux refers to the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) describes the presence of excessive reflux of acid or nonacid stomach contents, with unwanted resultant manifestations. Although traditionally approached as a disease with consequences limited to the gastrointestinal tract, an increasing body of evidence implicates GERD in injury to the respiratory tract. The high prevalence of extraesophageal manifestations of GERD in patients with respiratory illness highlights the importance of the consideration of gastrointestinal causes in the approach to the patient with respiratory illness. In this chapter, respiratory complications associated with GERD will be reviewed.