P-BN52 Patient-reported outcome measures following fundoplication – lind and nissens - single centre, single surgeon results

Background Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) affects approximately 10%-20% of adults in Western Countries. Surgery is indicated following failed medical therapy. This is recommended when GORD symptoms have a significant impact on the quality of life (QOL). A long term follow up is critical to authenticate outcomes following anti-reflux/hiatal hernia repair surgery. Objective information must be linked to the patient’s perception of the disease and the impact on the QOL. Our survey aims assess the long term patient’s satisfaction and the impact on QOL following standard Nissen’s and Lind’s fundoplication for GORD. Methods A single surgeon’s prospective database of laparoscopic and or open hiatus hernia repair and fundoplication with patient’s demographics since 2014 in a district general hospital was analyzed. These patients were contacted virtually between June and July 2021. Verbal consent was obtained, the patients were asked to answer questions from the GERD HRQL (AUGIS modified for use in National Hiatal Surgery Registry) for Hiatus Hernia (HH) or Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) or both to assess postoperative symptoms relief, complications, and overall quality of life. The scoring scale was divided into two categories; no symptoms or mild–moderate symptom improvement and those with significant symptoms. Results Of the 93 patients, 85 (91.4%) underwent primary laparoscopic repair with 91 cases performed as elective procedure. 68 patients (73%) underwent a Lind wrap, 24 (26%) had a floppy Nissen’s and one was a dor procedure. Three patients with unrelated death were excluded from the analysis. We had 67 responders (74.4%), 56 answered the GORD questionnaire and 66 responded to the HH questionnaire. 84% patients with GORD and 85% of patients with HH had significant symptom improvement. 61 % and 55% suffered from significant gas bloat symptoms in each group. As for dysphagia; 77% had no - mild dysphagia and 23% had significant dysphagia and this was 79% and 21% in HH group. Conclusions Overall patients satisfaction and improvement in quality of life was 90% . Half of our patient experienced gas bloat syndrome, which had little effect on their quality of life. 20% had long term dysphagia and one third of the patients seem to continue to use PPI despite expressing a satisfactory clinical improvement. It appears that patient’s long term improvement on the quality of life was satisfactory from both Nissen’s and Lind procedure.

Anti-reflux medication use in preterm infants

Background Current recommendations do not support the use of anti-reflux medications to treat gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) among preterm infants. Objective To describe the prevalence of GORD and the use of anti-reflux medications amongst very preterm infants (<32 weeks’ gestational age (GA)) in neonatal units in England and Wales. Design Retrospective cohort study using the National Neonatal Research Database. Results Among 58,108 infants [median GA (IQR) 29 (27–30) weeks], 15.8% (n = 9191) had a diagnosis of GORD and 36.9% (n = 12,446) received anti-reflux medications. Those who received anti-reflux medications were more preterm [GA, median (IQR): medications, 28 (26–30) vs. no medications, 30 (28–31); p < 0.001] and had lower birth weight [mean (SD): medications, 1124 g (354) vs. no medications, 1265 g (384); p < 0.001]. Most (57%, n = 12,224) received Gaviscon, or Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonist (H2RA) (56%, n = 11,959). Over time, prokinetic use has declined substantially, the use of H2RAs and Gaviscon has reduced although they continue to be used frequently, whilst the use of PPIs has increased. Conclusions Anti-reflux medications are frequently prescribed in very preterm infants, despite evidence to suggest that they are not effective and may be harmful. Clear guidelines for diagnosing GORD and the use of anti-reflux medications are required to rationalise the pharmacological management of GORD in preterm infants. Impact Anti-reflux medications are frequently prescribed, often without a diagnosis of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, to very preterm infants while in the neonatal unit and at discharge. Half of the infants born at <28 weeks’ gestational age receive anti-reflux medications in hospital and a quarter are discharged home on them. Although the use of prokinetics declined following alerts of adverse events, histamine2-receptor antagonists and alginates such as Gaviscon continue to be used and the use of proton-pump inhibitors has increased more than 2-fold.

SP5.1.8 Long term outcomes of laparoscopic magnetic sphincter augmentation for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: High patient satisfaction with low dysphagia rates

Aims Laparoscopic magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) or LINX® procedure is gaining popularity as a treatment for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. We looked at the long-term outcomes of this procedure with regards to its efficacy, in particular studying the dysphagia rate in relation to the LINX® device size. Methods Postal questionnaires were sent to all patients who underwent MSA procedure between 2012-2019 at a single institution. Patients were asked to quantify, as a percentage, their symptom resolution, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) intake and side effects. Results 124 patients (male:female ratio was 45:55) underwent MSA procedure, with 82 responding to the questionnaire. Patients' age range was 18-71 years (median 49). Over 90% of patients reported improvements in reflux symptoms with 75% reporting complete resolution. 67% of patients no longer required PPI medication, whilst 21% of patients had &gt;50% reduction in their medication. Post-operative dysphagia occurred in 59% of patients at 3 months, which decreased to 16% at 1 year. There was no significant difference in size of LINX® device used between patients with dysphagia at ≥ 1 year versus those without dysphagia at ≥ 1 year (p = 0.554). In total 3 patients (2%) required explantation of the LINX® device. Overall 86% of patients rated their outcomes as satisfactory or very satisfactory. Conclusions Our 7 years of experience with laparoscopic MSA has demonstrated that this procedure is safe with high patient satisfaction rates. Dysphagia, although common in the early post-operative period, usually resolves within 3-6 months and is unrelated to LINX® device size.

The Association between Gastrooesophageal Reflux Disease and Subsequent Rheumatoid Arthritis Occurrence

Background and Aims: Rheumatologic disorders (RDs) can manifest as gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) frequently experience upper GI symptoms due to a lack of esophageal contractility (AC). GORD (gastro oesophageal reflux disease) is a common comorbidity in rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA).The aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis and gastrooesophageal reflux disease. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 845 gastro-oesophageal reflux disease patients who presented to department of medicine, Qazi Hussain Ahmad Medical Complex Nowshera and Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), Peshawar for period of six months i.e from January 2020 to June 2020. Consecutive patients with were premeditated subsequently taking written informed consent. Patients with prior history of Oesophageal surgery were excluded. The demographics characteristics such as age, BMI, gender, previous history, gastrointestinal symptoms severity, analgesics, and medication usage were recorded on a pre-designed questionnaire. Inflammatory marker’s results were taken in the forms of C - reactive protein (CRP), and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR). Ethical approval was taken from the respective institutional review board. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. Results: Out of 845 GORD patients, 110 (13%) had Rheumatologic disorders (mean age 49.5± 2.6 years, 71% females). The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), and the most common systemic sclerosis (SSc) were 39 (36%), 24 (21.8%), and 47 (42.2%) respectively. Regurgitation, dysphagia, heartburn, and nausea were the most severe symptoms of gastrointestinal patients having rheumatoid disorder. The GI symptoms had no significant association with SLE, RA, and SSc severity. Upper GI symptom severity did not differentiate between RDs. Conclusion: Our study concluded that subsequent rheumatoid arthritis has a significant association with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Keywords: Gastro-oesophagealReflux Disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic sclerosis

711 POST-REFLUX SWALLOW-INDUCED PERISTALTIC WAVE IS IMPAIRED IN LARYNGOPHARYNGEAL AND GASTRO-OESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) result from the reflux of gastric contents. The post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave (PSPW) induces chemical clearance following reflux events. PSPW index is a novel parameter that has been validated in GORD, but not in LPR. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of chemical clearance by assessing PSPW indices in patients with LPR and GORD. Methods Reviewers blindly analysed off-therapy impedance-pH tracings from 187 patients divided into LPR (n = 105) or GORD (n = 82) by predominant symptom profile. Conventional impedance-pH measures and PSPW indices were analysed for the two groups. Results Mean PSPW index in the LPR group was higher than in the GORD group (39.7% (±17.7%) vs. 20.6% (±13.4%); p &lt; 0.001). Abnormally low PSPW index (&lt;61%) was seen in 85 (81%) of the LPR group, and 80 (97.6%) of the GORD group (p &lt; 0.001). Area under the ROC curve for PSPW index to diagnose LPR was 0.828 (95% CI: 0.767–0.889; p &lt; 0.001). The LPR group had a lower AET (1.5% vs. 8.1%; p &lt; 0.001) and fewer distal reflux episodes (46.5 (±24.5) vs. 64.4 (±39); p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion PSPW was impaired in patients with LPR as well as oesophageal GORD, indicating an abnormality of chemical clearance following a reflux episode in both groups. PSPW index was more severely impaired in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). The present study shows PSPW index is useful in aiding in the diagnosis of both LPR and GORD.