Development and Application of Endoscopic Antireflux Mucosectomy in Treating Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is primarily managed with acid suppressors, while laparoscopic fundoplication is considered the gold-standard surgical treatment for patients who have a suboptimal response to medical therapy, despite its limited acceptance. However, there have been alternative endoscopic treatment techniques available, including radiofrequency therapy, transoral fundoplication, and mucosal resection or mucosal ablation for this subgroup of patients, among which antireflux mucosectomy (ARMS) stands out as a relatively novel and minimally invasive option. The objective of this article is to provide gastroenterologists with a more comprehensive understanding of the technical features, current application status, clinical outcomes, and future perspectives regarding ARMS in the management of GERD. It is expected that ARMS will have a place in the standard endoscopic treatment of GERD. In the meantime, long-term multicenter, large-sample studies are required to provide a more convincing evaluation.