About

Robert T. Kavitt, MD, MPH, is an associate professor of medicine in the Department of Medicine at The University of Chicago. He is a gastroenterologist with expertise and specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal disorders. Dr. Kavitt's clinical interests include gastroesophageal reflux disease, eosinophilic esophagitis, esophageal motility disorders such as achalasia, Barrett's esophagus, and esophageal strictures. He has a particular focus on the evaluation of patients with difficulty swallowing and manages various esophageal conditions. Dr. Kavitt has contributed to the field through numerous publications and presentations, emphasizing his active engagement in research related to esophageal disorders.

Research topics

• Internal medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Medicine
• Surgery
• Psychiatry
• Pathology

Selected publications

• 703 Histologic Changes in the Stomach Associated with Potassium-Competitive Acid Blocker (P-CAB) Use

  Laboratory Investigation · 2026-03-01

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Eosinophilic Esophagitis

  2025-01-01

  book-chapterSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Medical Therapy for GERD

  2025-01-01

  book-chapterSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Ideal strategy for nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding

  Current Opinion in Gastroenterology · 2024 · 8 citations

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Gastroenterology

  PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Over 300 000 hospital admissions in the United States each year are due to patients with upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding (UGIB). Common etiologies of nonvariceal UGIB include peptic ulcers, mucosal erosions of the esophagus, stomach or duodenum, Mallory-Weiss tears, Dieulafoy lesions, upper GI tract malignancy, or other etiology. RECENT FINDINGS: Peptic ulcers classified as Forrest Ia, Ib, or IIa require endoscopic hemostasis, while IIb ulcers may be considered for endoscopic clot removal with endoscopic treatment of any underlying major stigmata. Endoscopic hemostasis for ulcers classified as Forrest IIc or III is not advised due to the low risk of recurrent bleeding. Endoscopic hemostasis in ulcer bleeding can be achieved using injection, thermal, and/or mechanical modalities. SUMMARY: This review focuses on the currently recommended endoscopic therapies of patients presenting with acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

  PublisherDOI

• Ineffective esophageal motility is associated with diabetes mellitus end organ complications

  Neurogastroenterology & Motility · 2024-06-14 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is known to induce a wide range of harmful effects on several organs, notably leading to ineffective esophageal motility (IEM). However, the relationship between DM and IEM is not fully elucidated. We aimed to determine the relationship between DM and IEM and to evaluate the impact of DM's end organ complications on IEM severity. METHODS: A multicenter cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing high-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) was performed. We reviewed medical records of patients diagnosed with IEM using HREM, encompassing data on demographics, DM history, antidiabetic and other medications as well as comorbidities. KEY RESULTS: Two hundred and forty six subjects met the inclusion criteria. There was no significant difference in any of the HREM parameters between diabetics and nondiabetics. Out of 246 patients, 92 were diabetics. Diabetics with neuropathy presented a significantly lower distal contractile integral (DCI) value compared to those without neuropathy (248.2 ± 226.7 mmHg·cm·sec vs. 375.6 ± 232.4 mmHg·cm·sec; p = 0.02) Similarly, the DCI was lower in diabetics with retinopathy compared to those without retinopathy (199.9 ± 123.1 mmHg·cm·sec vs. 335.4 ± 251.7 mmHg·cm·sec; p = 0.041). Additionally, a significant difference was observed in DCI values among DM patients with ≥2 comorbidities compared to those without comorbidities (224.8 ± 161.0 mmHg·cm·sec vs. 394.2 ± 243.6 mmHg·cm·sec; p = 0.025). Around 12.6% of the variation in DCI could be explained by its linear relationship with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), with a regression coefficient (β) of -55.3. CONCLUSION & INFERENCES: DM is significantly associated with IEM in patients with neuropathy, retinopathy, or multiple comorbidities. These results are pivotal for tailoring patient-specific management approaches.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Pharmacologic causes of dysphagia

  Dysphagia · 2023-01-01 · 1 citations

  book-chapterSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• The Impact of Chronic Cannabis Use on Esophageal Motility in Patients Referred for Esophageal Manometry

  Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology · 2023

  • Medicine
  • Internal medicine
  • Gastroenterology

  BACKGROUND: Tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, binds with high affinity to the cannabinoid 1 receptor. Small randomized controlled studies using conventional manometry have shown that the cannabinoid 1 receptor can modulate esophageal function, namely transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation frequency and lower esophageal sphincter tone. The effect of cannabinoids on esophageal motility in patients referred for esophageal manometry has not been fully elucidated using high-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM). We aimed to characterize the clinical effect of chronic cannabis use on esophageal motility utilizing HREM. METHODS: Patients who underwent HREM from 2009 to 2019 were identified at 4 academic medical centers. The study group consisted of patients with a noted history of chronic cannabis use, a diagnosis of cannabis-related disorder, or a positive urine toxicology screen. Age and gender-matched patients with no history of cannabis use were selected to form the control group. Data on HREM metrics based on the Chicago classification V3, and the prevalence of esophageal motility disorders were compared. Confounding effects of BMI and medications on esophageal motility were adjusted for. RESULTS: Chronic cannabis use was found to be an independent negative predictor of weak swallows (β=-8.02, P =0.0109), but not a predictor of failed swallows ( P =0.6890). The prevalence of ineffective esophageal motility was significantly lower in chronic cannabis users compared with nonusers (OR=0.44, 95% CI 0.19-0.93, P =0.0384). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of other esophageal motility disorders between the 2 cohorts. In patients with dysphagia as their primary indication for HREM, chronic cannabis use was found to be independently associated with increased median integrated relaxation pressure (β=6.638, P =0.0153) and increased mean lower esophageal sphincter resting pressure (β=10.38, P =0.0084). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic cannabis use is associated with decreased weak swallows and reduced prevalence of ineffective esophageal motility in patients referred for esophageal manometry. In patients referred for dysphagia, chronic cannabis use is associated with increased integrated relaxation pressure and lower esophageal sphincter resting pressure, though not to levels above the normal range.

  PublisherDOI

• S3011 Balloon Tamponade for Treatment of a Non-Variceal Upper GI Bleed

  The American Journal of Gastroenterology · 2023-10-01 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author

  Introduction: Balloon tamponade is commonly used for bleeding esophageal varices, but its application in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) is limited. We present a case of massive NVUGIB managed definitively with Minnesota tube placement after failed initial and secondary therapies. Case Description/Methods: A 61-year-old man underwent ventral hernia repair with routine intra-op NG tube placement. Post-op course was complicated by hemodynamic instability and an acute hemoglobin drop from 15.0 g/dL to 10.3 g/dL. On repeat ex-lap, there was no significant intra-abdominal bleeding; however, a distended stomach and dark fluid in the jejunum suggested intraluminal bleeding. Endoscopy revealed a pulsatile stream of blood at the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) anteriorly and a second area of bleeding posteriorly. Epinephrine injection and IR embolization were attempted but unsuccessful, prompting Minnesota tube placement to avoid an emergent esophagectomy. The following day, using gastric balloon inflation only, the patient was weaned off vasopressor support and hemoglobin stabilized without additional intervention. The Minnesota tube was maintained for 36 hours and no further bleeding was observed. He was discharged on post-op day 8. Follow-up endoscopy 3 weeks later was normal including a normal appearing GEJ. The initial bleed was thought to have been an esophageal Dieulafoy or an esophageal ulcer from NG tube trauma. Discussion: Balloon tamponade is used as a salvage therapy in acute variceal upper GI bleeding as a bridge to definitive endoscopic intervention or TIPS. In cases where endoscopic therapy fails, arterial embolization or surgery are considered as second-line therapies for management of acute upper GI bleeding. In the case we have described, arterial embolization failed to achieve adequate hemostasis, and emergency surgery was considered too high risk. Therefore, a Minnesota tube was placed as an attempt at salvage therapy due to the location of the bleeding at the GEJ. Hemostasis was subsequently achieved, and without further endoscopic intervention and acid suppression, the patient achieved endoscopic healing on follow-up. This case contributes to the growing literature of the use of Minnesota tubes for the treatment of NVUGIB. It proved not only to be a temporizing therapy but definitive therapy as well. The use of Minnesota tubes should be considered in the armamentarium for NVUGIB management in select cases, in parallel with endoscopic, vascular, and surgical approaches (see Figure 1).Figure 1.: A) Streaming arterial lesion at the GEJ at 12 o’clock position. B) GEJ with large clot and active oozing. C) Abdominal x-ray after Minnesota tube placement. D) Lower third of the esophagus on follow up endoscopy after discharge.

  PublisherDOI

• Medical Therapy for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

  2023-01-01

  book-chapterSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Preface

  Elsevier eBooks · 2022-01-01

  book-chapter
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Michael F. Vaezi

  25 shared

• James C. Slaughter

  14 shared

• Tina Higginbotham

  12 shared

• Elif Sarıtaş Yüksel

  Izmir Kâtip Çelebi University

  10 shared

• Anna M. Lipowska

  10 shared

• C. Gaelyn Garrett

  Vanderbilt University Medical Center

  9 shared

• Vani J. Konda

  Baylor Scott & White Health

  9 shared

• David T. Rubin

  8 shared