Response of Laryngopharyngeal Symptoms to Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication in Patients with Refractory Proven Gastroesophageal Reflux

Objective: Patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) symptoms may not respond to proton pump inhibitors (PPI) if they have an alternative laryngeal diagnosis or high-volume reflux. Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) or TIF with concomitant hiatal hernia repair (cTIF) are effective in decreasing symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) but are not well studied in patients with LPR symptoms. This prospective multicenter study assessed the patient-reported and clinical outcomes after TIF/cTIF in patients with LPR symptoms and proven GERD. Methods: Patients with refractory LPR symptoms (reflux symptom index [RSI] > 13) and with erosive esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, and/or pathologic acid reflux by distal esophageal pH testing were evaluated before and after a minimum of 6 months after TIF/cTIF. The primary outcome was normalization of RSI. Secondary outcomes were >50% improvement in GERD-Health-Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL), normalization of esophageal acid exposure time, discontinuation of PPI, and patient satisfaction. Results: Forty-nine patients had TIF (n = 26) or cTIF (n = 23) with at least 6 months follow-up. Mean pre- and post TIF/cTIF RSI were 23.6 and 5.9 (mean difference: 17.7, P < .001). Post TIF/cTIF, 90% of patients had improved GERD-HQRL score, 85% normalized RSI, 75% normalized esophageal acid exposure time, and 80% discontinued PPI. No serious procedure-related adverse events occurred. Patient satisfaction was 4% prior to TIF/cTIF and 73% after TIF/cTIF ( P < .001). Conclusion: In patients with objective evidence of GERD, TIF, or cTIF are safe and effective in controlling LPR symptoms as measured by normalization of RSI and improvement in patient satisfaction after TIF/cTIF. Level of Evidence Level 4

Effect of the transcutaneous electrical stimulation system on esophageal-acid exposure in patients non-responsive to once-daily proton-pump inhibitor: proof-of-concept study

Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disorder. Overall, ≤35% of GERD patients fail the standard dose of proton-pump-inhibitor (PPI) treatment. Due to the high prevalence and low satisfaction rate with treatment failure, there is an unmet need for new treatment. Our aim was to evaluate whether the use of the transcutaneous electrical stimulation system (TESS) can reduce esophageal-acid exposure in GERD patients unresponsive to standard-dose PPI. Methods We enrolled 10 patients suffering from heartburn and regurgitation with an abnormal esophageal-acid exposure (off PPIs) who failed standard-dose PPI. After the placement of a wireless esophageal pH capsule, all patients were treated with TESS. The primary end point was the reduction in the baseline (pretreatment) 24-hour percent total time pH &lt;4 and/or DeMeester score by 50%. Results Seven GERD patients (five females and two males, aged 49.3 ± 10.1 years) completed the study. At baseline, the mean percent total time pH &lt;4 was 12.0 ± 4.9. Following TESS, the mean percent total time pH &lt;4 dropped to 5.5 ± 3.4, 4.5 ± 2.6, 3.7 ± 2.9, and 4.4 ± 2.5 on Days 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. At baseline, the mean DeMeester score was 39.0 ± 18.5. After TESS, the mean DeMeester score dropped to 15.8 ± 9.2, 13.2 ± 6.8, 11.2 ± 9.4, and 12.0 ± 6.8 on Days 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Conclusion TESS is a safe and potentially effective modality in reducing esophageal-acid exposure in GERD patients unresponsive to standard-dose PPI. A larger and prospective controlled study is needed to verify these preliminary results.

Effect of electrical stimulation therapy of the lower esophageal sphincter in GERD patients with ineffective esophageal motility

Background Electrical stimulation therapy (EST) of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a novel technique in antireflux surgery. Due to the minimal alteration at the LES during surgery, LES-EST is meant to be ideal for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and ineffective esophageal motility (IEM). The aim of this prospective trial (NCT03476265) is to evaluate health-related quality of life and esophageal acid exposure after LES-EST in patients with GERD and IEM. Methods This is a prospective non-randomized open-label study. Patients with GERD and IEM undergoing LES-EST were included. Follow-up (FUP) at 12 months after surgery included health-related quality of life (HRQL) assessment with standardized questionnaires (GERD-HRQL) and esophageal functional testing. Results According to the study protocol, 17 patients fulfilled eligibility criteria. HRQL score for heartburn and regurgitation improved from 21 (interquartile range (IQR) 15–27) to 7.5 (1.25–19), p = 0.001 and from 17 (11–23.5) to 4 (0–12), p = 0.003, respectively. There was neither significant improvement of esophageal acid exposure nor reduction of number of reflux events in pH impedance measurement. Distal contractile integral improved from 64 (11.5–301) to 115 (IQR 10–363) mmHg s cm, p = 0.249. None of the patients showed any sign of dysphagia after LES-EST. One patient needed re-do surgery and re-implantation of the LES-EST due to breaking of the lead after one year. Conclusion Although patient satisfaction improved significantly after surgery, this study fails to demonstrate normalization or significant improvement of acid exposure in the distal esophagus after LES-EST.

572 NUTRITIONAL PATTERNS MAY AFFECT ESOPHAGEAL ACID EXPOSURE, AND THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUXES

The role of nutritional patterns on esophageal function testing parameters is not widely studied. Earlier published data focused on symptoms of GERD and their association with the food structure. Aim of the study was to assess the influence of nutritional patterns on esophageal acid exposure and types and number of gastroesophageal refluxes Methods The data of complete examination of 165 participants served as a source data for the study. Diagnosis of GERD was based on clinical data (heartburn and acid regurgitation at least once a week for not less than 6 month, actual during last 3 month, history of effective PPI treatment), GERD-Q questionnaire (≥8 points), endoscopic evaluation (Excera II, Olympus, Japan) and 24-hours esophageal pH-impedance studies (Ohmega, MMS, the Netherlands; 2 pH, 6 impedance catheters, UnisensorAG, USA). Food frequency questionnaire was used to analyse food structure. StatSoft (USA) software was used for correlation analysis. The work has been performed within RSF 19–76-30014. Results We enrolled 124 GERD patients and 41 controls. Significant (P &lt; 0.05) correlation of AET was with energy value of the ration (Spearman rank R = 0.19), amount of fat (R = 0.2). Significant correlation of number of GERs was with energy values (R = 0.35), protein (R = 0.3), fat (R = 0.33), alcohol (R = 0.28) and dietary fibre (R = -0.22) consumption. Number of acid GERs correlated with calorie (R = 0.35), fat (R = 0.32), protein (R = 0.25), carbohydrates (R = 0.24) and alcohol (R = 0.24) consumption. Number of weak-acid GERs correlated with calories (R = 0.22), fat (R = 0.21), protein (R = 0.22), alcohol (R = 0.23) and dietary fibre (R = -0.24) consumption. High GERs correlated with fat (R = 0.3), protein (R = 0.22), alcohol (R = 0.25) and fibre (R = -0.25). Conclusion High energy value, consumption of fat and alcohol showed direct medium-strength correlation with esophageal acid exposure and the total number gastroesophageal refluxes. The total number of gastroesophageal refluxes, number of weak acid and high gastroesophageal refluxes had inverse correlation with the amount of dietary fibre consumed. Found trends are used to establish nutritional patterns for reflux events in GERD patients.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease after peroral endoscopic myotomy: lest we forget what we already know

Summary After the performance of the first peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) in 2008, POEM has now spread worldwide and has arguably become a first-line treatment option for achalasia. Recently, there is increasing debate regarding post-POEM gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The reported incidences of GERD vary widely, owing to the variability in the definitions used. The literature regarding GERD and achalasia patients with a focus on 24-hour pH testing, esophageal acid exposure, and fermentation and the definitions of GERD used in the POEM literature are examined. 24-hour pH testing in achalasia patients may be abnormal due to fermentation both pre- and post-treatment. It is vital that POEM operators ensure that fermentation is recognized during 24-hour pH testing and excluded in the analysis of acid exposure time (AET) used in the diagnosis of GERD. In untreated achalasia, 24-hour pH testing may suggest abnormal AET in over a third of patients. However, most abnormal AETs in untreated achalasia patients are due to fermentation rather than GER. In treated achalasia, up to half of the patients with abnormal AET may be attributable to fermentation. To have a candid discussion and appropriately address the questions surrounding post-POEM GERD, consistent definitions need to be applied. We suggest the recent definition of GERD from the Lyon Consensus to be utilized when diagnosing GERD in post-POEM patients. Further studies are required in establishing ideal parameters for 24-hour pH testing in achalasia patients.