Preface: G. Krejs & R. Pointner (Austria) 1. Clinical spectrum and epidemiology · AUTHOR: G. Bianchi-Porro & F. Pace (L. Sacco University Hospital, Milan) 2. Pathophysiological aspects of GERD · AUTHOR: R. Fass (University of Arizona, Tucson) 3. GERD in elderly patients · AUTHOR: M. Vaezi (The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland) 4. GERD in infants and children · AUTHOR: S. Orenstein (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh) 5. Barrett s esophagus · AUTHOR: R. Sampliner (University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson) 6. Barrett s carcinoma and treatment · AUTHOR: Siewert ??(Munich) 7. H. pylori and GERD · AUTHOR: P. Malfertheiner (Universitätsklinik Magdeburg) 8. Hiatal hernia and GERD · AUTHOR: P.J. Kahrilas & J.E. Pandolfino (Northwestern University, Chicago) 9. NERD and Functional heartburn · AUTHOR: E. Quigley (Cork University Hospital, Irland) 10. Medical management · AUTHOR: C. Scarpignato & S. Contini (University Hospital of Parma) 11. Diagnosis and presurgical evaluation: a. Endoscopy AUTHOR: ??? b. Esophageal manometry and pH monitoring AUTHOR: D. Castell & R. Tutuian (Medical University of South Carolina) c. Radiology AUTHOR: D.J. Ott (Wake Forest University, North Carolina) d. Other esophageal disorders and symptoms in relation to GERD AUTHOR: ??? Krejs - Eherer (GRAZ) e. The patients perspective AUTHOR: G. Nilsson (University Hospital, Lund) 12. Endoscopic therapies o AUTHOR: C. Ell (HSK, Wiesbaden) 13. Surgical treatment a. The indication for a surgical management AUTHOR: K.H. Fuchs (Frankfurt) & R. Pointner (Zell am See) b. A historical review of surgical history in GERD AUTHOR: A.G. Little (Wright State University, Dayton) c. Open versus laparoscopic antireflux surgery AUTHOR: V. Velanovich (Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit) d. Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication AUTHOR: B. Dallemagne (Les Cliniques Saint Joseph, Liege) e. Laparoscopic Toupet Fundoplication AUTHOR: C. Zornig (IsraelischesKrankenhaus, Hamburg) f. Complete versus patial fundoplication AUTHOR: L. Lundell (University Hospital, Stockholm) g. Failures of laparoscopic antireflux surgery AUTHOR: D. Watson (Flinders University, Australia) h. Laparoscopic refundoplication AUTHOR: R. Pointner (Zell am See) i. Hiatal closure -new trends in laparoscopic antireflux surgery AUTHOR: F.A. Granderath (Zell am See) j. Long-term outcome and perspectives AUTHOR: R. Hinder (Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville) k. Robotic antireflux surgery AUTHOR: G.B. Cadière (CHU St. Pierre, Bruxelles) 14. GERD - Symptom, patient satisfaction and quality of life: Why and how should we evaluate these patient-reported outcomes? AUTHOR: S. Wood-Dauphinée (McGill University, Canada) & D. Korolija (Zagreb) The impact of disease and treatment on health-related quality of fife in patients suffering from GERD AUTHOR: T. Kamolz (Zell am See) & V. Velanovich (Detriot) 15. GERD from a psychological perspective AUTHOR: T. Kamolz (Zell am See) 16. Economic analyses of GERD AUTHOR: N. Vakil (University of Wisconsin, Madison)