Impact of ineffective oesophageal motility and wrap type on dysphagia after laparoscopic fundoplication

Abstract INTRODUCTION Laparoscopic Fundoplication (LF) as a treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has positive clinical outcomes. However, postoperative dysphagia (PD) may appear as a side effect. Our objective is to analyze PD in patients operated on for LF in our center. MATERIAL AND METHODS Retrospective and descriptive study of patients operated on for GERD from September 1997 to February 2019. RESULTS 248 patients (60.5% men), with a mean age of 49.7 (21-82), were operated. 66.1% of the patients presented associated comorbidities, highlighting obesity (19.8%). 75% manifested typical symptoms, 19% presenting with Barrett’s esophagus. Sliding hiatal, paraesophageal, mixed and complex hernia were diagnosed in 151 (60.9%), 23 (9.3%), 12 (4.8%), and 4 (1.6%) patients, respectively. The LF Nissen was the most frequent technique (91.5%), using a caliper in 46% of the cases. PD was the most frequent symptom, present in 57 (23%) patients. It was resolved with dilation in 9 patients, requiring 6 patients surgical reintervention. In those PD cases, a caliper was used in 28 (49.1%) patients, without finding significant differences between them (P = .586). Nor were there significant differences between PD and obesity (P = .510), type of hiatal hernia (P = .326), or surgical technique (P = .428). After a median follow-up of 50.5 months, quality of life was classified as Visick I-II, III, and IV in 76.6%, 6.9% and 1.2% of the cases, respectively. CONCLUSION No association between PD and the use of calipers, surgical technique or type of hiatal hernia was found in our series.

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Laparoscopic Fundoplication Is Effective Treatment for Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux and Absent Esophageal Contractility

Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery ◽

10.1007/s11605-021-05006-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Steven Tran ◽

Ronan Gray ◽

Feruza Kholmurodova ◽

Sarah K. Thompson ◽

Jennifer C. Myers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Laparoscopic Fundoplication ◽

Symptom Control ◽

Symptom Assessment ◽

Partial Fundoplication ◽

Esophageal Dysmotility ◽

Postoperative Symptoms ◽

Esophageal Contractility ◽

Prospective Database

Abstract Background Anti-reflux surgery in the setting of preoperative esophageal dysmotility is contentious due to fear of persistent long-term dysphagia, particularly in individuals with an aperistaltic esophagus (absent esophageal contractility). This study determined the long-term postoperative outcomes following fundoplication in patients with absent esophageal contractility versus normal motility. Methods A prospective database was used to identify all (40) patients with absent esophageal contractility who subsequently underwent fundoplication (36 anterior partial, 4 Nissen). Cases were propensity matched based on age, gender, and fundoplication type with another 708 patients who all had normal motility. Groups were assessed using prospective symptom assessment questionnaires to assess heartburn, dysphagia for solids and liquids, regurgitation, and satisfaction with surgery, and outcomes were compared. Results Across follow-up to 10 years, no significant differences were found between the two groups for any of the assessed postoperative symptoms. Multivariate analysis found that patients with absent contractility had worse preoperative dysphagia (adjusted mean difference 1.09, p = 0.048), but postoperatively there were no significant differences in dysphagia scores at 5- and 10-year follow-up. No differences in overall patient satisfaction were identified across the follow-up period. Conclusion Laparoscopic partial fundoplication in patients with absent esophageal contractility achieves acceptable symptom control without significantly worse dysphagia compared with patients with normal contractility. Patients with absent contractility should still be considered for surgery.

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