Gastroesophageal reflux disease historical perspective

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Overview

GERD is believed to be first described and treated by the ancient Egyptians according to the papyrus which was discovered by Edwin Smith at Thebes. The esophagus itself was named by the ancient Greeks. Friedenwald, and Feldman described the symptoms of GERD in 1925. Robbins and Jankelson used the radiological procedures to observe GERD in 1926.

Historical Perspective

• The esophagus was first named by the ancient Greeks as "oisophagos” at which “oiso” means carry and “phagema” means food.
• In 1541, Gyudon put the first description of the esophagus and its function.
• In 1704, Anton Maria Valsalva published an article where he described the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES was first named as cardiac sphincter as it is very near to the heart.
• In 1862, the American Egyptologist Edwin Smith discovered a papyrus at Thebes. This papyrus, which was named after him, contain 48 cases of different illnesses and their treatment. In 1930, the Edwin Smith papyrus was translated by Henry Breasted. Among the 48 cases, the case number 28 was titled with “Instructions concerning a wound in his throat” which was most probably a case of GERD.
• In 1925, Friedenwald and Feldman described the presenting symptoms of GERD. They associated between the symptoms of GERD and the presence of hiatus hernia.
• In 1926, Robbins and Jankelson used the radiological procedures to observe GERD.