23 GASTRIC BYPASS AS REVISION SURGERY FOR FAILED FUNDOPLICATIONS

Laparoscopic fundoplication as anti-reflux technique has emerged and widely expanded as a cost effective alternative to life-long medical treatment in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Long-term success rate ranges from 80–90% with this procedure, but side effects still exist even with experienced surgeons. Patients with a failed anti-reflux procedure are becoming a more common problem nowadays. Although most of these patients can be managed medically, still some of them will require revisional surgery. Methods We presented our experience from January 2015 to June 2019 facing cases of failed fundoplications. 59 cases with failed fundoplication requiring revision were included in the study. Redo fundoplications were decided preoperatively or intraoperatively to be difficult or unsafe to be done for these cases. Revision surgery for these cases was done using either distal gastrectomy and RY gastro-jejunostomy (22 cases) when the hiatal dissection was not feasible or unsafe due to obscure anatomy or Truncal vagotomy and RY gastro-jejunostomy (37 cases) when the hiatal dissection was easy and feasible. Results Laparoscopy was used in 49 cases and was successfully completed in 42cases (%) and 7conversion (%). Improvement of symptoms: Recurrent reflux or dysphagia was noted in 19 cases (32%) and complete disappeared in 26 cases (44%). One case had leak from the GJ and another one got hematemesis. Both cases were managed conservatively. Nine patient (15%) had bile gastritis with abdominal pain. Five patients (8.5%) complained of dumping symptoms. No mortality was recorded. Conclusion RY gastro-jejunostomy for failed fundoplications is a valid, feasible surgical option when redo fundoplication is difficult to be done or if associated with possible or expected complications.

Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) After Redo-Fundoplication

Background We aim to shed light on long-term subjective outcomes after re-operations for failed fundoplication. Methods 1809 patients were operated on for hiatal hernia and/or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) at the Helsinki University Hospital between 2000 and 2017. 111 (6%) of these had undergone a re-operation for a failed antireflux operation. Overall, HRQoL was assessed in 89 patients at the latest follow-up using the generic 15D© instrument. The results were compared to a sample of the general population, weighted to reflect the age and gender distribution of patients. Disease-specific HRQoL was assessed using the GERD-HRQoL questionnaire. We studied variation in the overall HRQoL with respect to disease-specific HRQoL and known patients' parameters using univariate and multivariable linear regression models. Results The median postoperative follow-up period was 9.3 years. All patients were operated on laparoscopically (6% conversion rate), and 87% were satisfied with the re-operation. Postoperative complications were minimal (5%). Twelve patients (11%) underwent a second re-operation. The median GERD-HRQoL score was nine. In multivariable analysis, four variables were independently associated with the 15D score, suggesting a decrease in the 15D score with increasing GERD-HRQoL score, increasing Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and the presence of chronic pain syndrome (CPS) and depression. Conclusion Re-do LF is a safe procedure in experienced hands and may offer acceptable long-term alleviation in patients with recurring symptoms after antireflux surgery. Decreased HRQoL in the long run is related to recurring GERD and co-morbidities.

FAILURE AFTER FUNDOPLICATION: RE-FUNDOPLICATION? IS THERE A ROOM FOR GASTRECTOMY? IN WHICH CLINICAL SCENARIES?

ABSTRACT Background: Re-fundoplication is the most often procedure performed after failed fundoplication, but re-failure is even higher. Aim: The objectives are: a) to discuss the results of fundoplication and re-fundoplication in these cases, and b) to analyze in which clinical situation there is a room for gastrectomy after failed fundoplication. Method: This experience includes 104 patients submitted to re-fundoplication after failure of the initial operation, 50 cases of long segment Barrett´s esophagus and 60 patients with morbid obesity, comparing the postoperative outcome in terms of clinical, endoscopic, manometric and 24h pH monitoring results. Results: In patients with failure after initial fundoplication, redo-fundoplication shows the worst clinical results (symptoms, endoscopic esophagitis, manometry and 24 h pH monitoring). In patients with long segment Barrett´s esophagus, better results were observed after fundoplication plus Roux-en-Y distal gastrectomy and in obese patients similar results regarding symptoms, endoscopic esophagitis and 24h pH monitoring were observed after both fundoplication plus distal gastrectomy or laparoscopic resectional gastric bypass, while regarding manometry, normal LES pressure was observed only after fundoplication plus distal gastrectomy. Conclusion: Distal gastrectomy is recommended for patients with failure after initial fundoplication, patients with long segment Barrett´s esophagus and obese patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett´s esophagus. Despite its higher morbidity, this procedure represents an important addition to the surgical armamentarium.