Medical versus surgical management for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) in adults

Multimorbidity in Difficult Asthma: The Need for Personalised and Non-Pharmacological Approaches to Address a Difficult Breathing Syndrome

Three to ten percent of people living with asthma have difficult-to-treat asthma that remains poorly controlled despite maximum levels of guideline-based pharmacotherapy. This may result from a combination of multiple adverse health issues including aggravating comorbidities, inadequate treatment, suboptimal inhaler technique and/or poor adherence that may individually or collectively contribute to poor asthma control. Many of these are potentially "treatable traits" that can be pulmonary, extrapulmonary, behavioural or environmental factors. Whilst evidence-based guidelines lead clinicians in pharmacological treatment of pulmonary and many extrapulmonary traits, multiple comorbidities increase the burden of polypharmacy for the patient with asthma. Many of the treatable traits can be addressed with non-pharmacological approaches. In the current healthcare model, these are delivered by separate and often disjointed specialist services. This leaves the patients feeling lost in a fragmented healthcare system where clinical outcomes remain suboptimal even with the best current practice applied in each discipline. Our review aims to address this challenge calling for a paradigm change to conceptualise difficult-to-treat asthma as a multimorbid condition of a "Difficult Breathing Syndrome" that consequently needs a holistic personalised care attitude by combining pharmacotherapy with the non-pharmacological approaches. Therefore, we propose a roadmap for an evidence-based multi-disciplinary stepped care model to deliver this.

Patient Satisfaction after Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication-Long-Term Outcomes of Single-Center Study

Up to 33% of the population suffers from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Given its high prevalence, the negative impact on quality of life, and the possible progression to esophageal cancer, the definitive treatment of GERD should be used more frequently. This study aims to assess long-term patient satisfaction after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF). We reviewed the prospectively collected data of patients who underwent LNF for GERD in our department in 2014–2018. Each patient completed a preoperative questionnaire according to GERD Impact Scale (GERD-IS). Postoperative survey consisted of GERD-IS, the need for PPIs, and two “yes or no” questions to assess satisfaction with the outcome. The mean follow-up time was 50 months (21.2–76.3 ± 16.6 months). There was a statistically significant improvement in each GERD-IS question (p < 0.001). A total of 87 patients (78.4%) would recommend the surgery to their relatives. Patients without symptom recurrence and without the need for chronic PPI use after surgery were significantly more likely to recommend surgery and to undergo the procedure again (p < 001). The age of patients did not influence patients’ recommendations (p = 0.75). A total of 17 patients (15.3%) would not undergo LNF again. There was no significant correlation between the answer and patient’s complications or age (p > 0.05). LNF is a good treatment for GERD with a satisfaction rate of 78.4%.

THERAPEUTIC TACTICS FOR PEPTIC STRICTURES OF THE ESOPHAGUS. LITERATURE REVIEW

The work is based on the analysis of literature data devoted to the choice of treatment for peptic esophageal strictures. The main goal of this review is to identify treatment tactics for patients with stenosing reflux esophagitis.

 Researchers point out that the main causes of GERD are a decrease in pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter, the action of the damaging properties of the refluctant. Untimely treatment of GERD can lead to complications such as peptic stricture, Barrett's esophagus. The appearance of GERD stricture is most often promoted by: persistent heartburn after bougienage, erosion of the lower third of the esophagus, shortening of the II degree esophagus, and inadequate antisecretory therapy.

Various methods of treatment at all stages of the appearance of peptic stricture are presented, depending on the degree of dysphagia and the length of the stricture, the use of adequate conservative therapy regimens for PPIs, bougienage, as well as a description of various methods of antireflux operations. Endoscopic dilation is the first treatment option for all symptomatic benign esophageal strictures. There are treatments for benign refractory esophageal strictures such as endoscopic dilatation with intraluminal steroid injection, endoscopic postoperative therapy or stricturoplasty, esophageal stenting, self-bougienage, as well as surgery - antireflux surgery, esophagectomy with replacement of the esophagus by the stomach or colon [1].

The main goal in the treatment of peptic esophageal strictures, according to most authors, is to eliminate the progression of GERD, conduct bougienage or balloon dilatation, and select the optimal antireflux surgery. Treatment for peptic strictures should minimize the risk of re-stricture of the esophagus.

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease: limits of medical treatment and surgical indications

Proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) have long been considered as the ideal treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and their limitations and side effects have revealed a need for new therapeutic approaches. At present, the therapeutic gains achieved are relatively small or limited to groups of patients with specific characteristics. This article updates the contributions, indications, and limitations of pharmacological, endoscopic, and surgical treatment.

SAGES guidelines for the surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)

BACKGROUND

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is an extremely common condition with several medical and surgical treatment options. A multidisciplinary expert panel was convened to develop evidence-based recommendations to support clinicians, patients, and others in decisions regarding the treatment of GERD with an emphasis on evaluating different surgical techniques.

METHODS

Literature reviews were conducted for 4 key questions regarding the surgical treatment of GERD in both adults and children: surgical vs. medical treatment, robotic vs. laparoscopic fundoplication, partial vs. complete fundoplication, and division vs. preservation of short gastric vessels in adults or maximal versus minimal dissection in pediatric patients. Evidence-based recommendations were formulated using the GRADE methodology by subject experts. Recommendations for future research were also proposed.

RESULTS

The panel provided seven recommendations for adults and children with GERD. All recommendations were conditional due to very low, low, or moderate certainty of evidence. The panel conditionally recommended surgical treatment over medical management for adults with chronic or chronic refractory GERD. There was insufficient evidence for the panel to make a recommendation regarding surgical versus medical treatment in children. The panel suggested that once the decision to pursue surgical therapy is made, adults and children with GERD may be treated with either a robotic or a laparoscopic approach, and either partial or complete fundoplication based on surgeon-patient shared decision-making and patient values. In adults, the panel suggested either division or non-division of the short gastric vessels is appropriate, and that children should undergo minimal dissection during fundoplication.

CONCLUSIONS

These recommendations should provide guidance with regard to surgical decision-making in the treatment of GERD and highlight the importance of shared decision-making and patient values to optimize patient outcomes. Pursuing the identified research needs may improve future versions of guidelines for the treatment of GERD.

Flatulence After Anti-reflux Treatment (FAART) Study

BACKGROUND

Flatulence is known to be a common side effect of laparoscopic fundoplication, yet the true incidence is unclear and its impact on patients' quality of life not well understood. This study aimed to assess the long-term incidence of flatulence, and its effect on quality of life, following fundoplication.

METHODS

All patients who underwent primary laparoscopic fundoplication between 1999 and 2009 were identified from a prospectively maintained institutional database. A cross-sectional analysis of post-operative gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life was performed using a symptom-specific questionnaire. Statistical analysis of outcomes stratified by sex and type of fundoplication was performed.

RESULTS

462 eligible patients were identified from the database, with follow-up obtained in 265 (57%). Median age at surgery was 53 (22-78) years. 137 patients (52%) were female. 138 (52%) underwent a 360° fundoplication, the remainder a partial fundoplication. At median follow-up of 11 (8-15) years, excessive flatulence was reported by 85%. Only 12% reported an adverse impact on social life, and 11% an adverse impact on quality of life. Flatulence was worse following a total than partial fundoplication, women reported more gas-related symptoms than men, yet neither sex nor wrap type had a significant impact on social life or quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients report excessive flatulence at long-term follow-up after anti-reflux surgery, yet the impact on social life and quality life was small. There was no evidence to support tailoring of wrap type by sex to avoid gas-related symptoms. The authors advocate that all patients understand the inevitable side effects of fundoplication to help manage expectations from surgery.

Long-term patient satisfaction and durability of laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery in a large Danish cohort: study protocol for a retrospective cohort study with development of a novel scoring system for patient selection

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery is standard of care in surgical treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and is not without risks of adverse effects, including disruption of the fundoplication and postfundoplication dysphagia, in some cases leading to reoperation. Non-surgical factors such as pre-existing anxiety or depression influence postoperative satisfaction and symptom relief. Previous studies have focused on a short-term follow-up or only certain aspects of disease, such as reoperation or postoperative quality of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate long-term patient-satisfaction and durability of laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery in a large Danish cohort using a comprehensive multimodal follow-up, and to develop a clinically applicable scoring system usable in selecting patients for anti-reflux surgery.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The study is a retrospective cohort study utilising data from patient records and follow-up with patient-reported quality of life as well as registry-based data. The study population consists of all adult patients having undergone laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery at The Department of Surgery, Kolding Hospital, a part of Lillebaelt Hospital Denmark in an 11-year period. From electronic records; patient characteristics, preoperative endoscopic findings, reflux disease characteristics and details on type of surgery, will be identified. Disease-specific quality of life and dysphagia will be collected from a patient-reported follow-up. From Danish national registries, data on comorbidity, reoperative surgery, use of pharmacological anti-reflux treatment, mortality and socioeconomic factors will be included. Primary outcome of this study is treatment success at follow-up.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Study approval has been obtained from The Danish Patient Safety Agency, The Danish Health Data Authority and Statistics Denmark, complying to Danish and EU legislation. Inclusion in the study will require informed consent from participating subjects. The results of the study will be published in peer-reviewed medical journals regardless of whether these are positive, negative or inconclusive.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03959020).

Antireflux mucosectomy band in treatment of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease: a pilot study for safety, feasibility and symptom control

Background and study aims  Antireflux mucosectomy band ligation (ARM-b) is an endoscopic procedure that mimics a fundoplication for managing gastroesophoageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of this study was to assess safety and feasibility of ARM-b. Patients and methods  This was a single-center study on consecutive patients operated between June 2017 and January 2019 with refractory GERD, confirmed with pH-metry and without motility disorder at high-resolution manometry. A piecemeal mucosectomy of three quarters of circumference of esophagogastric junction was performed using a band ligation system and a hexagonal snare. The primary objective was to assess procedural safety and feasibility. The secondary objective was to document the clinical improvement at 3 and 6 months based on patient satisfaction, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) intake, symptoms, and quality of life scores. Results  Twenty-onepatients (11 men) with mean age 56.9 ± 14.4 years were analyzed. The technical success rate was 100 % (mean duration 35 ± 11 min). Four patients (19 %) had mild adverse events: one delayed bleeding at Day 1 managed conservatively, and three dysphagia endoscopically managed. Mean follow-up was 10 ± 5 months. Decrease/discontinuation of PPI intake was 76 % at 3 months and 72 % at 6 months. Improvement in mean symptoms and quality of life scores (GERD-Q and GERD-HQL) were statistically significant. One patient required laparoscopic fundoplication after ARM-b failure without complication. Conclusion  ARM-b is safe, feasible, and symptom-effective for treating refractory GERD, and it can be performed in the ambulatory setting. Further prospective studies are required to confirm these promising outcomes.

Hiatal hernia repair with Toupet fundoplication in surgical treatment of hiatal hernia, complicated by gastroesophageal reflux disease

Introduction. Hiatal hernia occupies a third place in the structure of the gastrointestinal tract pathology. The association of hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease can lead to severe complications and requires a surgical treatment. Objective. To analyze short-term and long-term results of a surgical treatment of patients with hiatal hernia complicated by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods. A retrospective analysis of the short-term and long-term treatment results of 62 patients suffering from hiatal hernia complicated by gastroesophageal reflux disease was performed. All the patients underwent a laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair supplemented by Toupet fundoplication. Results. The hospital stay duration was 7.21.6 days. The postoperative complication rate was 6.5%. Mild functional dysphagia was noted in 8(12.9%). Persistent long-term dysphagia in the late postoperative period was observed in 2(3.2%) patients. The recurrences of hiatal hernia or GERD were noted in 15(24.2%) patients in 5 years after the surgery. The total GERD-HRQL questionnaire score 5 years after the surgery was 5.73.9. Сonclusion. Laparoscopic interventions are safe, less traumatic, provide the possibility of early rehabilitation of patients, can achieve positive functional results in 85% of patients and should be used in the treatment of patients suffering from hiatal hernia complicated by GERD.

Early results of magnetic sphincter augmentation versus fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic Nissen and Toupet fundoplication (LF) are currently considered gold-standard surgical treatment for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation (MSA) is an innovative surgical procedure that has been showed to be effective to control GERD symptoms and to reduce esophageal acid exposure. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare early outcomes of LF and MSA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were consulted matching the terms "Gastroesophageal reflux or heartburn", "LINX or magnetic sphincter augmentation" and "fundoplication". Pooled effect measures were calculated using an inverse-variance weighted or Mantel-Haenszel in random effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I²-index and Cochrane Q-test. Meta-regression was used to address the effect of potential confounders.

RESULTS

Seven observational cohort studies, published between 2014 and 2017, matched the inclusion criteria. Overall, 1211 patients, 686 MSA and 525 LF, were included. Postoperative morbidity ranged from 0 to 3% in the MSA group and from 0 to 7% in the LF group, and there was no mortality. Dysphagia requiring endoscopic dilatation occurred in 9.3% and 6.6% of patients respectively (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 0.61-3.95, p = 0.119). The pooled OR of gas/bloat symptoms, ability to vomit, and ability to belch were 0.39 (95% CI 0.25-0.61; p < 0.001), 10.10 (95% CI 5.33-19.15; p < 0.001), and 5.53 (95% CI 3.73-8.19; p < 0.001), respectively. The postoperative GERD-HRQL was similar (p = 0.101). The pooled OR of PPI suspension, endoscopic dilation, and reoperation were similar in the two patients groups (p = 0.548, p = 0.119, p = 0.183, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Both anti-reflux procedures are safe and effective up to 1-year follow-up. PPI suspension rate, dysphagia requiring endoscopic dilatation, and disease-related quality of life are similar in the two patient groups. MSA is associated with less gas/bloat symptoms and increased ability to vomit and belch.

Models and applications for measuring the impact of health research: update of a systematic review for the Health Technology Assessment programme

BACKGROUND

This report reviews approaches and tools for measuring the impact of research programmes, building on, and extending, a 2007 review.

OBJECTIVES

(1) To identify the range of theoretical models and empirical approaches for measuring the impact of health research programmes; (2) to develop a taxonomy of models and approaches; (3) to summarise the evidence on the application and use of these models; and (4) to evaluate the different options for the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme.

DATA SOURCES

We searched databases including Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and The Cochrane Library from January 2005 to August 2014.

REVIEW METHODS

This narrative systematic literature review comprised an update, extension and analysis/discussion. We systematically searched eight databases, supplemented by personal knowledge, in August 2014 through to March 2015.

RESULTS

The literature on impact assessment has much expanded. The Payback Framework, with adaptations, remains the most widely used approach. It draws on different philosophical traditions, enhancing an underlying logic model with an interpretative case study element and attention to context. Besides the logic model, other ideal type approaches included constructionist, realist, critical and performative. Most models in practice drew pragmatically on elements of several ideal types. Monetisation of impact, an increasingly popular approach, shows a high return from research but relies heavily on assumptions about the extent to which health gains depend on research. Despite usually requiring systematic reviews before funding trials, the HTA programme does not routinely examine the impact of those trials on subsequent systematic reviews. The York/Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation toolkits provide ways of assessing such impact, but need to be evaluated. The literature, as reviewed here, provides very few instances of a randomised trial playing a major role in stopping the use of a new technology. The few trials funded by the HTA programme that may have played such a role were outliers.

DISCUSSION

The findings of this review support the continued use of the Payback Framework by the HTA programme. Changes in the structure of the NHS, the development of NHS England and changes in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's remit pose new challenges for identifying and meeting current and future research needs. Future assessments of the impact of the HTA programme will have to take account of wider changes, especially as the Research Excellence Framework (REF), which assesses the quality of universities' research, seems likely to continue to rely on case studies to measure impact. The HTA programme should consider how the format and selection of case studies might be improved to aid more systematic assessment. The selection of case studies, such as in the REF, but also more generally, tends to be biased towards high-impact rather than low-impact stories. Experience for other industries indicate that much can be learnt from the latter. The adoption of researchfish^® (researchfish Ltd, Cambridge, UK) by most major UK research funders has implications for future assessments of impact. Although the routine capture of indexed research publications has merit, the degree to which researchfish will succeed in collecting other, non-indexed outputs and activities remains to be established.

LIMITATIONS

There were limitations in how far we could address challenges that faced us as we extended the focus beyond that of the 2007 review, and well beyond a narrow focus just on the HTA programme.

CONCLUSIONS

Research funders can benefit from continuing to monitor and evaluate the impacts of the studies they fund. They should also review the contribution of case studies and expand work on linking trials to meta-analyses and to guidelines.

FUNDING

The National Institute for Health Research HTA programme.

Variation in laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery across England: a 5-year review

Background

Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery (LARS) remains central to the management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease but the scale and variation in provision in England is unknown. The aims of this study were firstly to examine the processes and outcomes of anti-reflux surgery in England and compare them to national guidelines and secondly to explore potential variations in practice nationally and establish peer benchmarks.

Methods

All adult patients who underwent LARSin England during the Financial years FY 2011/2012–FY 2016/2017 were identified in the Surgeon’s Workload Outcomes and Research Database (SWORD), which is based on the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data warehouse. Outcomes included activity volume, day-case rate, short-stay rate, 2- and 30-day readmission rates and 30-day re-operation rates. Funnel plots were used to identify national variation in practice.

Results

In total, 12,086 patients underwent LARS in England during the study period. The operation rate decreased slightly over the study period from 5.2 to 4.6 per 100,000 people. Most outcomes were in line with national guidelines including the conversion rate (0.76%), 30-day re-operation rate (1.43%) and 2- and 30-day readmission rates (1.65 and 8.54%, respectively). The day-case rate was low but increased from 7.4 to 15.1% during the 5-year period. Significant variation was found, particularly in terms of hospital volume, and day-case, short-stay and conversion rates.

Conclusion

Although overall outcomes are comparable to studies from other countries, there is significant variation in anti-reflux surgery activity and outcomes in England. We recommend that units use these data to drive local quality improvement efforts.

New Approaches to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

BACKGROUND

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common gastrointestinal disorder of the esophagus. It is a chronic, progressive disorder that presents most typically with heartburn and regurgitation and atypically with chest pain, dysphagia, chronic cough, globus, or sore throat. The mainstay for diagnosis and characterization of the disorder is esophagoduodenoscopy (EGD), high-resolution esophageal manometry, and symptom-associated ambulatory esophageal pH impedance monitoring. Additional studies that can be useful in certain clinical presentations include gastric scintigraphy and oral contrast upper gastrointestinal radiographic series.

DISCUSSION

Refractory GERD can be surgically managed with various techniques. In obese individuals, laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass should be considered due to significant symptom improvement and lower incidence of recurrent symptoms with weight loss. Otherwise, laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is the preferred surgical technique for treatment of this disease with concomitant hiatal hernia repair when present for either procedure. The short-term risks associated with these procedures include esophageal or gastric injury, pneumothorax, wound infection, and dysphagia. Emerging techniques for treatment of this disease include the Linx Reflux Management System, EndoStim LES Stimulation System, Esophyx® and MUSE™ endoscopic fundoplication devices, and the Stretta endoscopic ablation system. Outcomes after surgical management of refractory GERD are highly dependent on adherence to strict surgical indications and appropriate patient-specific procedure selection.

A long-term evaluation of the quality of life after laparoscopic Nissen-Rossetti anti-reflux surgery

BACKGROUND:

The quality of life (QoL) has been suggested to be the most relevant parameter to assess and monitor the long-term outcome in patients who underwent surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

A retrospective evaluation was conducted on patients who underwent Laparoscopic Nissen-Rossetti Fundoplication for GERD between January 1998 and December 2010. To evaluate the long-term results a telephone interview was made using the VISICK score and the GERD-health-related QoL (HRQL) questionnaire at 1, 3, 5 years and at the end of the study. If the questionnaires resulted unsatisfactory, a complete diagnostic revaluation was performed.

RESULTS:

A total of 168 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for GERD. When evaluated at the end of the study, the number of unsatisfied patients according to the VISICK score was significantly higher than the one obtained with the GERD-HRQL questionnaire.

CONCLUSIONS:

Many data suggest a possible recurrence of the symptoms after surgery in a long follow-up period. Our data seem to demonstrate a slight but significant trend in symptoms relapse after surgery. Considering the non-specific and specific nature of the two scores, VISICK and GERD HRQL, our result showed a significantly more relevant trend of symptoms relapse only for the non-specific ones. Such QoL scores seem to be important in selecting patients who need to be instrumentally examined. Consequently, our work proves that only a few patients out of the total number of followed up patients, are to be recalled to undergo instrumental examination.

Efficacy of Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation versus Nissen Fundoplication for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Short Term: A Meta-Analysis

Background. The efficacy of Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation (MSA) and its outcomes for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) are uncertain. Therefore, we aimed to summarize and analyze the efficacy of two treatments for GERD. Methods. The meta-analysis search was performed, using four databases. All studies from 2005 to 2016 were included. Pooled effect was calculated using either the fixed or random effects model. Results. A total of 4 trials included 624 patients and aimed to evaluate the differences in proton-pump inhibitor use, complications, and adverse events. MSA had a shorter operative time (MSA and NF: RR = -18.80, 95% CI: -24.57 to -13.04, and P = 0.001) and length of stay (RR = -14.21, 95% CI: -24.18 to -4.23, and P = 0.005). Similar proton-pump inhibitor use, complication (P = 0.19), and severe dysphagia for dilation were shown in both groups. Although there is no difference between the MSA and NF in the number of adverse events, the incidence of postoperative gas or bloating (RR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.54-0.94, and P = 0.02) showed significantly different results. However, there is no significant difference in ability to belch and ability to vomit. Conclusions. MSA can be recommended as an alternative treatment for GERD according to their short-term studies, especially in main-features of gas-bloating, due to shorter operative time and less complication of gas or bloating.

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for gastroesophageal reflux disease 2015

As an increase in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been reported in Japan, and public interest in GERD has been increasing, the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology published the Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines for GERD (1st edition) in 2009. Six years have passed since its publication, and there have been a large number of reports in Japan concerning the epidemiology, pathophysiology, treatment, and Barrett's esophagus during this period. By incorporating the contents of these reports, the guidelines were completely revised, and a new edition was published in October 2015. The revised edition consists of eight items: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, internal treatment, surgical treatment, esophagitis after surgery of the upper gastrointestinal tract, extraesophageal symptoms, and Barrett's esophagus. This paper summarizes these guidelines, particularly the parts related to the treatment for GERD. In the present revision, aggressive proton pump inhibitor (PPI) maintenance therapy is recommended for severe erosive GERD, and on-demand therapy or continuous maintenance therapy is recommended for mild erosive GERD or PPI-responsive non-erosive GERD. Moreover, PPI-resistant GERD (insufficient symptomatic improvement and/or esophageal mucosal break persisting despite the administration of PPI at a standard dose for 8 weeks) is defined, and a standard-dose PPI twice a day, change in PPI, change in the PPI timing of dosing, addition of a prokinetic drug, addition of rikkunshito (traditional Japanese herbal medicine), and addition of histamine H2-receptor antagonist are recommended for its treatment. If no improvement is observed even after these treatments, pathophysiological evaluation with esophageal impedance-pH monitoring or esophageal manometry at an expert facility for diseases of the esophagus is recommended.

LINX®, a novel treatment for patients with refractory asthma complicated by gastroesophageal reflux disease: a case report

Background

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is one of the most common comorbidities in patients with asthma. Gastroesophageal reflux disease can be linked to difficult-to-control asthma. Current management includes gastric acid suppression therapy and surgical antireflux procedures. The LINX® procedure is a novel surgical treatment for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease refractory to medical therapy. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case of successful treatment of refractory asthma secondary to gastroesophageal reflux disease using the LINX® procedure.

Case presentation

Our patient was a 22-year-old white woman who met the American Thoracic Society criteria for refractory asthma that had remained poorly controlled for 5 years despite progressive escalation to step 6 treatment as recommended by National Institutes of Health-National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines, including high-dose oral corticosteroids, high-dose inhaled corticosteroid plus long-acting β₂-agonist, leukotriene receptor antagonist, and monthly omalizumab. Separate trials with azithromycin therapy and roflumilast did not improve her asthma control, nor did bronchial thermoplasty help. Additional consultations with two other university health systems left the patient with few treatment options for asthma, which included cyclophosphamide. Instead, the patient underwent a LINX® procedure after failure of maximal medical therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease with the additional aim of improving asthma control. After she underwent LINX® treatment, her asthma improved dramatically and was no longer refractory. She had normal exhaled nitric oxide levels and loss of peripheral eosinophilia after LINX® treatment. Prednisone was discontinued without loss of asthma control. The only immediate adverse effects due to the LINX® procedure were bloating, nausea, and vomiting.

Conclusions

LINX® is a viable alternative to the Nissen fundoplication procedure for the treatment of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and poorly controlled concomitant refractory asthma.

Outcomes of fundoplication for paediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease

PURPOSE

Outcomes of fundoplication in children.

METHODS

In this monocentric retrospective study, chart review was performed on children who underwent fundoplication between 2006 and 2013. Outcomes were defined as the need for redo fundoplication and recommencement of anti-reflux medication (ARM) at 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS

119 patients underwent fundoplication with a mean age of 4.76 years and 55.5% of these were male. At 6-month follow-up, 21 (17.6%) required redo fundoplication and 64 (53.8%) were recommenced on ARM. Post-operative complications occurred in 50 (42.2%) of children; 30% of those with complications had surgery at less than 1 year of age, and 36% had an associated comorbid condition. Neither being under the age of one nor associated comorbidity was significantly associated with a poor outcome. Concurrent gastrostomy was associated with a higher risk of being back on ARM at 6-month follow-up (p = 0.003). Neither gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms pre-surgery nor abnormal pre-operative investigations including pH monitoring and endoscopy were predictive of poor outcome post-fundoplication.

CONCLUSION

Although fundoplication has a role in the treatment of severe GORD in children, the majority of children in this study needed to restart their anti-reflux medications within 6 months of surgery.

Mortality from laparoscopic antireflux surgery in a nationwide cohort of the working-age population

Background

Both medication and surgery are effective treatments for severe gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Postoperative risks have contributed to decreased use of antireflux surgery. The aim of this study was to assess short-term mortality following primary laparoscopic fundoplication.

Methods

This was a population-based nationwide cohort study including all Swedish hospitals that performed laparoscopic fundoplication between 1997 and 2013. All patients aged 18–65 years with GORD who underwent primary laparoscopic fundoplication during the study interval were included. The primary outcome was absolute all-cause and surgery-related 90- and 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were reoperation and length of hospital stay. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios with 95 per cent confidence intervals of reoperation within 90 days and prolonged hospital stay (4 days or more).

Results

Of 8947 included patients, 5306 (59·3 per cent) were men and 551 (6·2 per cent) had significant co-morbidity (Charlson score above 0). Median age at surgery was 48 years, and median hospital stay was 2 days. The annual rate of laparoscopic fundoplication decreased from 15·3 to 2·4 patients per 100 000 population during the study period, whereas the proportion of patients with co-morbidity increased more than twofold. All-cause 90- and 30-day mortality rates were 0·08 per cent (7 patients) and 0·03 per cent (3 patients) respectively. Only one death (0·01 per cent) was directly surgery-related. The 90-day reoperation rate was 0·4 per cent (39 patients). Co-morbidity and older age were associated with an increased risk of prolonged hospital stay, but not reoperation.

Conclusion

This population-based study revealed very low mortality and reoperation rates following primary laparoscopic fundoplication in the working-age population. The findings may influence clinical decision-making in the treatment of severe GORD.

pH Impedance vs. traditional pH monitoring in clinical practice: an outcome study

BACKGROUND

The addition of impedance to 24-h pH monitoring has allowed detection of weakly acidic reflux, but the extent to which pH-impedance (pH-MII) monitoring improves outcomes is unknown.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study. Patients referred for pH or pH-MII monitoring completed a standardized questionnaire on improvement in the dominant symptom, their satisfaction, and treatment at 3 and 12 months after the test during a telephone interview.

RESULTS

A total of 184 patients (mean age, 52 years, range, 19-82 years; 35 % with typical symptoms; and 89 % tested off therapy) completed pH (n = 92) or pH-MII monitoring (n = 92) over a period of 15 months. The two arms were similar in terms of demographic, clinical, and endoscopic variables. Ten patients in the pH-MII arm showed evidence of weakly acidic reflux disease. There was no difference in the percentage of patients in the pH and pH-MII monitoring arms who experienced improvement in their dominant symptom after 3 (58 vs. 63 %; p = 0.621) or 12 months (66 vs. 70 %; p = 0.234), and the same was true for patient satisfaction. There were also no between-group difference in the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) after 3 (63 vs. 68.5 %; p = 0.437) or 12 months (47 vs. 60.5 %; p = 0.051). PPIs were prescribed more frequently after a positive test (p < 0.001) although they were used by 45.6 % of the negative patients. Only one patient underwent fundoplication.

CONCLUSIONS

Two-thirds of patients undergoing pH-MII monitoring experience a positive outcome, similarly to what occurs after traditional pH monitoring. Physicians often pay little attention to the test results, especially if they are negative.

Esophageal surgery in minimally invasive era

The widespread popularity of new surgical technologies such as laparoscopy, thoracoscopy and robotics has led many surgeons to treat esophageal diseases with these methods. The expected benefits of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) mainly include reductions of postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and pain and better cosmetic results. All of these benefits could potentially be of great interest when dealing with the esophagus due to the potentially severe complications that can occur after conventional surgery. Moreover, robotic platforms are expected to reduce many of the difficulties encountered during advanced laparoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures such as anastomotic reconstructions, accurate lymphadenectomies, and vascular sutures. Almost all esophageal diseases are approachable in a minimally invasive way, including diverticula, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, achalasia, perforations and cancer. Nevertheless, while the limits of MIS for benign esophageal diseases are mainly technical issues and costs, oncologic outcomes remain the cornerstone of any procedure to cure malignancies, for which the long-term results are critical. Furthermore, many of the minimally invasive esophageal operations should be compared to pharmacologic interventions and advanced pure endoscopic procedures; such a comparison requires a difficult literature analysis and leads to some confounding results of clinical trials. This review aims to examine the evidence for the use of MIS in both malignancies and more common benign disease of the esophagus, with a particular emphasis on future developments and ongoing areas of research.

Antireflux surgery vs medical treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease: A meta-analysis

AIM: To compare the effect of antireflux surgery with medicine in treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients using meta- analysis.

METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched. We only included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effect of surgical intervention with medical therapy for GERD. Statistical analyses were performed using RevMan 5.2 and STATA 12.0 software. RevMan 5.2 was used to assess the risk of bias and calculate the pooled effect size, while Stata 12.0 was used to evaluate publication bias and for sensitivity analysis. We evaluated the primary outcomes with GERD-/health-related quality of life in short (one to three years) and long (three to twelve years) periods of follow-up. Secondary outcomes evaluated were DeMeester scores and the percentage of time that pH < 4 to evaluate the degree of acid exposure.

RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 7 studies with 1972 patients. It showed a positive effect of antireflux surgery compared with medical treatment in terms of health-related quality of life [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.18; 95%CI: 0.01 to 0.34] and GERD-related quality of life (SMD = 0.35; 95%CI: 0.11 to 0.59). We also conducted the subgroup analyses based on follow-up periods and found that surgery remained more effective than medicine over the short to medium follow-up time, but the advantage of antireflux surgery probably not maintained for long time. GERD-related quality of life in the surgical group was significantly higher than medical group for the < 3 years follow-up (SMD = 0.45; 95%CI: 0.23 to 0.66); the difference was not statistically significant when the follow-up time was ≥ 3 years (SMD = 0.30; 95%CI: -0.10 to 0.69). Meta-analysis showed a statistically significant difference between the surgical group and medical group in the percentage of time that pH < 4 (SMD = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.14 to 0.61). Meta-analysis indicated a positive effect of antireflux surgery compared with medical treatment concerning DeMeester scores (SMD = 0.32; 95%CI: 0.00 to 0.65).

CONCLUSION: Although both were effective, in some respects surgical intervention was more effective than medical therapy to treat GERD when follow-up time was up to three years.

Multi-institutional outcomes using magnetic sphincter augmentation versus Nissen fundoplication for chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease

BACKGROUND

Magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) has emerged as an alternative surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The safety and efficacy of MSA has been previously demonstrated, although adequate comparison to Nissen fundoplication (NF) is lacking, and required to validate the role of MSA in GERD management.

METHODS

A multi-institutional retrospective cohort study of patients with GERD undergoing either MSA or NF. Comparisons were made at 1 year for the overall group and for a propensity-matched group.

RESULTS

A total of 415 patients (201 MSA and 214 NF) underwent surgery. The groups were similar in age, gender, and GERD-HRQL scores but significantly different in preoperative obesity (32 vs. 40 %), dysphagia (27 vs. 39 %), DeMeester scores (34 vs. 39), presence of microscopic Barrett's (18 vs. 31 %) and hiatal hernia (55 vs. 69 %). At a minimum of 1-year follow-up, 354 patients (169 MSA and 185 NF) had significant improvement in GERD-HRQL scores (pre to post: 21-3 and 19-4). MSA patients had greater ability to belch (96 vs. 69 %) and vomit (95 vs. 43 %) with less gas bloat (47 vs. 59 %). Propensity-matched cases showed similar GERD-HRQL scores and the differences in ability to belch or vomit, and gas bloat persisted in favor of MSA. Mild dysphagia was higher for MSA (44 vs. 32 %). Resumption of daily PPIs was higher for MSA (24 vs. 12, p = 0.02) with similar patient-reported satisfaction rates.

CONCLUSIONS

MSA for uncomplicated GERD achieves similar improvements in quality of life and symptomatic relief, with fewer side effects, but lower PPI elimination rates when compared to propensity-matched NF cases. In appropriate candidates, MSA is a valid alternative surgical treatment for GERD management.

Laparoscopic fundoplication surgery versus medical management for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) in adults

BACKGROUND

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a common condition with 3% to 33% of people from different parts of the world suffering from GORD. There is considerable uncertainty about whether people with GORD should receive an operation or medical treatment for controlling the condition.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the benefits and harms of laparoscopic fundoplication versus medical treatment for people with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Upper Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Diseases Group (UGPD) Trials Register (June 2015), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 6, 2015), Ovid MEDLINE (1966 to June 2015), and EMBASE (1980 to June 2015) to identify randomised controlled trials. We also searched the references of included trials to identify further trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We considered only randomised controlled trials (RCT) comparing laparoscopic fundoplication with medical treatment in people with GORD irrespective of language, blinding, or publication status for inclusion in the review.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently identified trials and independently extracted data. We calculated the risk ratio (RR) or standardised mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using both fixed-effect and random-effects models with RevMan 5 based on available case analysis.

MAIN RESULTS

Four studies met the inclusion criteria for the review, and provided information on one or more outcomes for the review. A total of 1160 participants in the four RCTs were either randomly assigned to laparoscopic fundoplication (589 participants) or medical treatment with proton pump inhibitors (571 participants). All the trials included participants who had had reflux symptoms for at least six months and had received long-term acid suppressive therapy. All the trials included only participants who could undergo surgery if randomised to the surgery arm. All of the trials were at high risk of bias. The overall quality of evidence was low or very low. None of the trials reported long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) or GORD-specific quality of life (QoL).The difference between laparoscopic fundoplication and medical treatment was imprecise for overall short-term HRQOL (SMD 0.14, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.30; participants = 605; studies = 3), medium-term HRQOL (SMD 0.03, 95% CI -0.19 to 0.24; participants = 323; studies = 2), medium-term GORD-specific QoL (SMD 0.28, 95% CI -0.27 to 0.84; participants = 994; studies = 3), proportion of people with adverse events (surgery: 7/43 (adjusted proportion = 14.0%); medical: 0/40 (0.0%); RR 13.98, 95% CI 0.82 to 237.07; participants = 83; studies = 1), long-term dysphagia (surgery: 27/118 (adjusted proportion = 22.9%); medical: 28/110 (25.5%); RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.42; participants = 228; studies = 1), and long-term reflux symptoms (surgery: 29/118 (adjusted proportion = 24.6%); medical: 41/115 (35.7%); RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.03; participants = 233; studies = 1).The short-term GORD-specific QoL was better in the laparoscopic fundoplication group than in the medical treatment group (SMD 0.58, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.70; participants = 1160; studies = 4).The proportion of people with serious adverse events (surgery: 60/331 (adjusted proportion = 18.1%); medical: 38/306 (12.4%); RR 1.46, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.11; participants = 637; studies = 2), short-term dysphagia (surgery: 44/331 (adjusted proportion = 12.9%); medical: 11/306 (3.6%); RR 3.58, 95% CI 1.91 to 6.71; participants = 637; studies = 2), and medium-term dysphagia (surgery: 29/288 (adjusted proportion = 10.2%); medical: 5/266 (1.9%); RR 5.36, 95% CI 2.1 to 13.64; participants = 554; studies = 1) was higher in the laparoscopic fundoplication group than in the medical treatment group.The proportion of people with heartburn at short term (surgery: 29/288 (adjusted proportion = 10.0%); medical: 59/266 (22.2%); RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.69; participants = 554; studies = 1), medium term (surgery: 12/288 (adjusted proportion = 4.2%); medical: 59/266 (22.2%); RR 0.19, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.34; participants = 554; studies = 1), long term (surgery: 46/111 (adjusted proportion = 41.2%); medical: 78/106 (73.6%); RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.72); participants = 217; studies = 1) and those with reflux symptoms at short-term (surgery: 6/288 (adjusted proportion = 2.0%); medical: 53/266 (19.9%); RR 0.10, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.24; participants = 554; studies = 1) and medium term (surgery: 6/288 (adjusted proportion = 2.1%); medical: 37/266 (13.9%); RR 0.15, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.35; participants = 554; studies = 1) was less in the laparoscopic fundoplication group than in the medical treatment group.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is considerable uncertainty in the balance of benefits versus harms of laparoscopic fundoplication compared to long-term medical treatment with proton pump inhibitors. Further RCTs of laparoscopic fundoplication versus medical management in patients with GORD should be conducted with outcome-assessor blinding and should include all participants in the analysis. Such trials should include long-term patient-orientated outcomes such as treatment-related adverse events (including severity), quality of life, and also report on the social and economic impact of the adverse events and symptoms.

In the Clinic. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

This issue provides a clinical overview of gastroesophageal reflux disease, focusing on diagnosis, treatment, and practice improvement. The content of In the Clinic is drawn from the clinical information and education resources of the American College of Physicians (ACP), including ACP Smart Medicine and MKSAP (Medical Knowledge and Self-Assessment Program). Annals of Internal Medicine editors develop In the Clinic from these primary sources in collaboration with the ACP's Medical Education and Publishing divisions and with the assistance of science writers and physician writers. Editorial consultants from ACP Smart Medicine and MKSAP provide expert review of the content. Readers who are interested in these primary resources for more detail can consult http://smartmedicine.acponline.org, http://mksap.acponline.org, and other resources referenced in each issue of In the Clinic.

Upper aerodigestive tract disorders and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

A wide variety of symptoms and diseases of the upper aerodigestive tract are associated to gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). These disorders comprise a large variety of conditions such as asthma, chronic otitis media and sinusitis, chronic cough, and laryngeal disorders including paroxysmal laryngospasm. Laryngo-pharyngeal reflux disease is an extraoesophageal variant of GORD that can affect the larynx and pharynx. Despite numerous research efforts, the diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux often remains elusive, unproven and controversial, and its treatment is then still empiric. Aim of this paper is to review the current literature on upper aerodigestive tract disorders in relation to pathologic gastro-oesophageal reflux, focusing in particular on the pathophysiology base and results of the surgical treatment of GORD.

Laparoscopic watson fundoplication is effective and durable in children with gastrooesophageal reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux (GOR) affects 2–8% of children over 3 years of age and is associated with significant morbidity. The disorder is particularly critical in neurologically impaired children, who have a high risk of aspiration. Traditionally, the surgical antireflux procedure of choice has been Nissen's operation. However, this technique has a significant incidence of mechanical complications and has a reoperation rate of approximately 7%, leading to the development of alternative approaches. Watson's technique of partial anterior fundoplication has been shown to achieve long-lasting reflux control in adults with few mechanical complications, but there is limited data in the paediatric population. We present here short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic Watson fundoplication in a series of 76 children and infants, 34% of whom had a degree of neurological impairment including severe cerebral palsy and hypoxic brain injury. The overall complication rate was 27.6%, of which only 1 was classified as major. To date, we have not recorded any incidences of perforation and no revisions. In our experience, Watson's laparoscopic partial fundoplication can be performed with minimal complications and with durable results, not least in neurologically compromised children, making it a viable alternative to the Nissen procedure in paediatric surgery.

Three-dimensional profilometric assessment of early enamel erosion simulating gastric regurgitation

OBJECTIVES

A priority research area in minimal intervention dentistry is the characterization of the early stages of dental erosion. The aim of this in vitro study was to assess the effect of short, repetitive erosive challenges to human enamel over 2 min at pH 1.5 and 3.0 under conditions simulating gastric regurgitation.

METHODS

Enamel surfaces were subjected to erosive challenges at pH 1.5 (Group 1, n=10) and pH 3.0 (Group 2, n=9) for periods of 30s (stage 1), 60s (stage 2) and 120 s (stage 3). Quantitative changes were assessed longitudinally by measuring the 3D average surface roughness (Sa) values using 3D confocal microscopy. Qualitative micrographic assessment of surface changes was also conducted by using environmental scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTS

Linear mixed model analysis showed significant effects of the pH values (p<0.001) and the stages (p<0.001) on the observed Sa values. Post hoc tests showed significant increases in the Sa values between baseline and other stages in both groups (p<0.01). The mean Sa values also increased significantly from stage 1 to stage 2 in Group 1 (p<0.05). Micrographic analysis displayed severely etched enamel rods in Group 1, but only subtle changes in Group 2.

CONCLUSIONS

The complexity of the enamel surface is influenced by both acid concentration (pH value) and duration of acid exposure during early stages of erosion. Erosion occurring under conditions simulating GORD can be detected in its initial stages, opening up the possibilities of early diagnosis and management of this condition.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Erosive tooth wear occurs progressively and insidiously, often creating complex treatment challenges. This emphasizes the need for early diagnosis and management in accordance with minimal intervention philosophy. Our findings provide a foundation for further research that could lead to the development of highly-sensitive clinical diagnostic tools and preventive strategies.

Laparoscopic surgery for benign and malign diseases of the digestive system: Indications, limitations, and evidence

The laparoscopic technique was introduced in gastrointestinal surgery in the mid 1980s. Since then, the development of this technique has been extraordinary. Triggered by technical innovations (stapling devices or coagulation/dissecting devices), nowadays any type of gastrointestinal resection has been successfully performed laparoscopically and can be performed laparoscopically dependent on the patient’s condition. This summary gives an overview over 30 years of laparoscopic surgery with focus on today’s indications and evidence. Main indications remain the more common procedures, e.g., appendectomy, cholecystectomy, bariatric procedures or colorectal resections. For all these indications, the laparoscopic approach has become the gold standard with less perioperative morbidity. Regarding oncological outcome there have been several high-quality randomized controlled trials which demonstrated equivalency between laparoscopic and open colorectal resections. Less common procedures like esophagectomy, oncological gastrectomy, liver and pancreatic resections can be performed successfully as well by an experienced surgeon. However, the evidence for these special indications is poor and a general recommendation cannot be given. In conclusion, laparoscopic surgery has revolutionized the field of gastrointestinal surgery by reducing perioperative morbidity without disregarding surgical principles especially in oncological surgery.

EAES recommendations for the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease

BACKGROUND

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most frequent benign disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Management of GERD has always been controversial since modern medical therapy is very effective, but laparoscopic fundoplication is one of the few procedures that were quickly adapted to the minimal access technique. The purpose of this project was to analyze the current knowledge on GERD in regard to its pathophysiology, diagnostic assessment, medical therapy, and surgical therapy, and special circumstances such as GERD in children, Barrett's esophagus, and enteroesophageal and duodenogastroesophageal reflux.

METHODS

The European Association of Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) has tasked a group of experts, based on their clinical and scientific expertise in the field of GERD, to establish current guidelines in a consensus development conference. The expert panel was constituted in May 2012 and met in September 2012 and January 2013, followed by a Delphi process. Critical appraisal of the literature was accomplished. All articles were reviewed and classified according to the hierarchy of level of evidence and summarized in statements and recommendations, which were presented to the scientific community during the EAES yearly conference in a plenary session in Vienna 2013. A second Delphi process followed discussion in the plenary session.

RESULTS

Recommendations for pathophysiologic and epidemiologic considerations, symptom evaluation, diagnostic workup, medical therapy, and surgical therapy are presented. Diagnostic evaluation and adequate selection of patients are the most important features for success of the current management of GERD. Laparoscopic fundoplication is the most important therapeutic technique for the success of surgical therapy of GERD.

CONCLUSIONS

Since the background of GERD is multifactorial, the management of this disease requires a complex approach in diagnostic workup as well as for medical and surgical treatment. Laparoscopic fundoplication in well-selected patients is a successful therapeutic option.

Management of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a review of medical and surgical management

Background. Gastroesophageal reflux disease currently accounts for the majority of esophageal pathologies. This study is an attempt to help us tackle the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of this disease. This study specifically focuses on patients in the urban Indian setup. Materials and Methods. This study was a prospective interventional study carried out at a teaching public hospital in Mumbai from May 2010 to September 2012. Fifty patients diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (confirmed by endoscopy and esophageal manometry) were chosen for the study. Results. Fifty patients were included in the study. Twenty patients showed symptomatic improvement after three months and were thus managed conservatively, while 30 patients did not show any improvement in symptoms and were eventually operated. Conclusion. We suggest that all patients diagnosed to have gastroesophageal reflux disease should be subjected to 3 months of conservative management. In case of no relief of symptoms, patients need to be subjected to surgery. Laparoscopic Toupet's fundoplication is an effective and feasible surgical treatment option for such patients, associated with minimal side effects. However, the long-term effects of this form of treatment still need to be evaluated further with a larger sample size and a longer followup.

Pain after laparoscopic antireflux surgery

INTRODUCTION

The benefits of antireflux surgery are well established. Laparoscopic techniques have been shown to be generally safe and effective. The aim of this paper was to review the subject of pain following laparoscopic antireflux surgery.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the PubMed database to identify all studies reporting pain after laparoscopic antireflux surgery. Publications were included for the main analysis if they contained at least 30 patients. Operations in children, Collis gastroplasty procedures, endoluminal fundoplication and surgery for paraoesophageal hernias were excluded. The frequency of postoperative pain was calculated and the causes/management were reviewed. An algorithm for the investigation of patients with pain following laparoscopic fundoplication was constructed.

RESULTS

A total of 17 studies were included in the main analysis. Abdominal pain and chest pain following laparoscopic fundoplication were reported in 24.0% and 19.5% of patients respectively. Pain was mild or moderate in the majority and severe in 4%. Frequency of pain was not associated with operation type. The authors include their experience in managing patients with persistent, severe epigastric pain following laparoscopic anterior fundoplication.

CONCLUSIONS

Pain following laparoscopic antireflux surgery occurs in over 20% of patients. Some have an obvious complication or a diagnosis made through routine investigation. Most have mild to moderate pain with minimal effect on quality of life. In a smaller proportion of patients, pain is severe, persistent and can be disabling. In this group, diagnosis is more difficult but systematic investigation can be rewarding, and can enable appropriate and successful treatment.

Borderline indications and selection of gastroesophageal reflux disease patients: 'Is surgery better than medical therapy'?

Modern medical therapies for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are totally dedicated to the control of the acid component of the refluxate. In chronic erosive GERD, antireflux surgery has proven to be very efficacious and superior to traditional medical therapies, such as H2 blockers. The introduction of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), however, substantially improved medical therapy. Still, treatment failures are inevitable regardless of which of these two effective therapies is chosen. Some recent reports have presented conflicting results from trials comparing antireflux surgery and PPIs. This may be due to differences in trial designs as well as in the structure and content of the therapeutic strategies that are compared. The study with the longest clinical follow-up by far is the SOPRAN study comparing open antireflux surgery and omeprazole. The protocol provides for a follow-up period of more than a decade and the clinical outcomes have recently been published. There has always been concern about the long-term effectiveness of reflux prevention whether by surgery or PPI therapy. It is likely that a marker for an emerging risk for recurrence of GERD is abnormal acid reflux as assessed by ambulatory 24-hour pH-metry. The LOTUS trial compared maintenance therapy provided by esomeprazole (dose-adjusted when required) with standardized laparoscopic antireflux surgery in patients with good response to acid suppressive therapy. An operation is suitable when symptoms are poorly controlled despite medication, especially for patients who suffer large-volume regurgitation and those who wake at night coughing and choking and who regurgitate acidic fluid or food into their throat and airways. Regurgitation into the throat upon stooping or exercising can limit a patient's ability to work, play sports or even do simple housework. A few patients cannot tolerate medical treatment. If surgery is to be a good option, it must be ensured that the right surgeon performs a standardized operation for the right indications on the right patient and provides good preoperative counseling and testing along with postoperative support. When a patient is refractory to medical treatment, the diagnosis of GERD should be reconsidered before surgery is advised; extradigestive manifestations should be accounted for with care.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) substantially improves GERD symptoms, although in some individuals symptoms return and acid-suppressive medication use increases. Limited data suggest that LF is less effective at reducing symptoms in partial responders to medical therapy than in complete responders. This may affect cost arguments for using fundoplication surgery rather than acid-suppressive medications, as data are based largely on complete responders.

Laparoscopic surgery for gastro-esophageal acid reflux disease

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease is a troublesome disease for many patients, severely affecting their quality of life. Choice of treatment depends on a combination of patient characteristics and preferences, esophageal motility and damage of reflux, symptom severity and symptom correlation to acid reflux and physician preferences. Success of treatment depends on tailoring treatment modalities to the individual patient and adequate selection of treatment choice. PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) were searched for systematic reviews with an abstract, publication date within the last five years, in humans only, on key terms (laparosc* OR laparoscopy*) AND (fundoplication OR reflux* OR GORD OR GERD OR nissen OR toupet) NOT (achal* OR pediat*). Last search was performed on July 23nd and in total 54 articles were evaluated as relevant from this search. The laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication is the therapy of choice for normal-weight GERD patients qualifying for laparoscopic surgery. No better pharmaceutical, endoluminal or surgical alternatives are present to date. No firm conclusion can be stated on its cost-effectiveness. Results have to be awaited comparing the laparoscopic 180-degree anterior fundoplication with the Toupet fundoplication to be a possible better surgical alternative. Division of the short gastric vessels is not to be recommended, nor is the use of a bougie or a mesh in the vast majority of GERD patients undergoing surgery. The use of a robot is not recommended. Anti-reflux surgery is to be considered expert surgery, but there is no clear consensus what is to be called an 'expert surgeon'. As for setting, ambulatory settings seem promising although high-level evidence is lacking.

Systematic review: Laparoscopic fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease in partial responders to proton pump inhibitors

AIM: To assess laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) in partial responders to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed and Embase (1966-Dec 2011) for articles reporting data on LF efficacy in partial responders. Due to a lack of randomized controlled trials, observational studies were included. Of 558 articles screened, 17 were eligible for inclusion. Prevalence data for individual symptoms were collated across studies according to mutually compatible time points (before and/or after LF). Where suitable, prevalence data were presented as percentage of patients reporting symptoms of any frequency or severity.

RESULTS: Due to a lack of standardized reporting of symptoms, the proportion of patients experiencing symptoms was recorded across studies where possible. After LF, the proportion of partial responders with heartburn was reduced from 93.1% (5 studies) to 3.8% (5 studies), with similar results observed for regurgitation [from 78.4% (4 studies) to 1.9% (4 studies)]. However, 10 years after LF, 35.8% (2 studies) of partial responders reported heartburn and 29.1% (1 study) reported regurgitation. The proportion using acid-suppressive medication also increased, from 8.8% (4 studies) in the year after LF to 18.2% (2 studies) at 10 years. In the only study comparing partial responders to PPI therapy with complete responders, higher symptom scores and more frequent acid-suppressive medication use were seen in partial responders after LF.

CONCLUSION: GERD symptoms improve after LF, but subsequently recur, and acid-suppressive medication use increases. LF may be less effective in partial responders than in complete responders.

Reflux symptoms and side effects among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease at baseline, during treatment with PPIs, and after Nissen fundoplication

BACKGROUND

There are no prospective studies available on the behavior of extraesophageal and esophageal symptoms and treatment-related side effects in patients without effective antireflux medication, receiving the most effective antireflux medication, and after laparoscopic fundoplication.

METHODS

Extraesophageal and esophageal reflux symptoms and treatment-related side effects were assessed in 60 patients while they were on no effective antireflux medication (three-week washout period), after three month of treatment with double-dose esomeprazole, and 3 months after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. Esophageal and extraesophageal reflux symptoms, rectal flatulence, and bloating were analyzed with the visual analog scale. In addition, dysphagia, rectal flatulence, and bloating were recorded as none, mild, moderate, or severe.

RESULTS

Both extraesophageal and esophageal reflux symptoms decreased after treatment with esomeprazole and were further reduced after fundoplication. Dysphagia and flatulence did not increase from baseline after surgery. Bloating decreased both after treatment with esomeprazole and after fundoplication. In contrast, dysphagia and increased flatus were found more often after surgery than during treatment with esomeprazole. Dysphagia and rectal flatulence were less common during treatment with esomeprazole than at baseline or after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Both extraesophageal and esophageal reflux symptoms decreased after treatment with esomeprazole and were reduced further after fundoplication. Any treatment-related side effect was not increased after surgery when compared to baseline. However, compared to esomeprazole there was more dysphagia and flatulence after fundoplication.

Fundoplication versus medical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Medical, endoscopic, and open/laparoscopic surgical methods are used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This study aimed to perform a systematic review of randomized controlled trials comparing medical and surgical treatments of GERD in adult patients.

METHODS

For the study, MEDLINE and EMBASE (1980-2012) were searched. Two reviewers independently assessed methodologic aspects and extracted data from eligible studies, focusing on patient-relevant outcomes. The primary outcomes were health-related and GERD-specific quality-of-life aspects. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) between treatment groups were calculated and combined using random-effect meta-analysis.

RESULTS

The study identified 11 publications reporting on 7 trials comparing surgical (open or laparoscopic) and medical treatment of GERD. Meta-analysis of both quality-of-life aspects showed a pooled-effect estimate in favor of fundoplication (SMD 0.18; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.01-0.35; SMD 0.33; 95 % CI 0.13-0.54). Heartburn and regurgitation were less frequent after surgical intervention. However, a considerable proportion of patients still needed antireflux medication after fundoplication. Nevertheless, the surgical patients were significantly more satisfied with their symptom control and showed higher satisfaction with the treatment received.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review showed that surgical management of GERD is more effective than medical management with respect to patient-relevant outcomes in the short and medium term. However, long-term studies still are needed to determine whether antireflux surgery is an equivalent alternative to lifelong medical treatment.

LINX(®) Reflux Management System in chronic gastroesophageal reflux: a novel effective technology for restoring the natural barrier to reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) results from incompetency of the lower esophageal sphincter that allows the contents of the stomach to reflux into the esophagus, the airways, and the mouth. The disease affects about 10% of the western population and has a profound negative impact on quality of life. The majority of patients are successfully treated with proton-pump inhibitors, but up to 40% have incomplete relief of symptoms even after dose adjustment. The laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication represents the surgical gold standard, but is largely underused because of the level of technical difficulty and the prevalence of side effects. These factors have contributed to the propensity of patients to continue with medical therapy despite inadequate symptom control and complications of the disease. As a consequence, a significant 'therapy gap' in the treatment of GERD remains evident in current clinical practice. The LINX(®) Reflux Management System (Torax Medical, St. Paul, MN, USA) is designed to provide a permanent solution to GERD by augmenting the sphincter barrier with a standardized, reproducible laparoscopic procedure that does not alter gastric anatomy and is easily reversible. Two single-group trials confirmed that a magnetic device designed to augment the lower esophageal sphincter can be safely and effectively implanted using a standard laparoscopic approach. The device decreased esophageal acid exposure, improved reflux symptoms and quality of life, and allowed cessation of proton-pump inhibitors in the majority of patients.

Quality of life following laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication: Assessing short-term and long-term outcomes

AIM: To investigate the quality of life following laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication by assessing short-term and long-term outcomes.

METHODS: From 1992 to 2005, 249 patients underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. Short-term outcome data including symptom response, side effects of surgery, endoscopy, and patient’s perception of overall success were collected prospectively. Long-term outcomes were investigated retrospectively in patients with a median follow-up of 10 years by assessment of reflux symptoms, side effects of surgery, durability of antireflux surgery, need for additional treatment, patient’s perception of success, and quality of life. Antireflux surgery was considered a failure based on the following criteria: moderate to severe heartburn or regurgitation; moderate to severe dysphagia reported in combination with heartburn or regurgitation; regular proton pump inhibitor medication use; endoscopic evidence of erosive esophagitis Savary-Miller grade 1-4; pathological 24-h pH monitoring; or necessity to undergo an additional surgery. The main outcome measures were short- and long-term cure rates and quality of life, with patient satisfaction as a secondary outcome measure.

RESULTS: Conversion from laparoscopy to open surgery was necessary in 2.4% of patients. Mortality was zero and the 30-d morbidity was 7.6% (95%CI: 4.7%-11.7%). The median postoperative hospital stay was 2 d [interquartile range (IQR) 2-3 d]. Two hundred and forty-seven patients were interviewed for short-term analysis following endoscopy. Gastroesophageal reflux disease was cured in 98.4% (95%CI: 95.9%-99.6%) of patients three months after surgery. New-onset dysphagia was encountered postoperatively in 13 patients (6.7%); 95% reported that the outcome was better after antireflux surgery than with preoperative medical treatment. One hundred and thirty-nine patients with a median follow-up of 10.2 years (IQR 7.2-11.6 years) were available for a long-term evaluation. Cumulative long-term cure rates were 87.7% (81.0%-92.2%) at 5 years and 72.9% (64.0%-79.9%) at 10 years. Gastrointestinal symptom rating scores and RAND-36 quality of life scores of patients with treatment success were similar to those of the general population but significantly lower in those with failed antireflux surgery. Of the patients available for long-term follow-up, 83% rated their operation a success.

CONCLUSION: For the long-term, our results indicate decreasing effectiveness of laparoscopic antireflux surgery, although most of the patients seem to have an overall quality of life similar to that of the general population.

Minimal access surgery compared with medical management for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: five year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial (REFLUX)

OBJECTIVES

To determine the long term clinical effectiveness of laparoscopic fundoplication as an alternative to drug treatment for chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

DESIGN

Five year follow-up of multicentre, pragmatic randomised trial (with parallel non-randomised preference groups).

SETTING

Initial recruitment in 21 UK hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Responders to annual questionnaires among 810 original participants. At entry, all had had GORD for >12 months.

INTERVENTION

The surgeon chose the type of fundoplication. Medical therapy was reviewed and optimised by a specialist. Subsequent management was at the discretion of the clinician responsible for care, usually in primary care.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcome measure was self reported quality of life score on disease-specific REFLUX questionnaire. Other measures were health status (with SF-36 and EuroQol EQ-5D questionnaires), use of antireflux medication, and complications.

RESULTS

By five years, 63% (112/178) of patients randomised to surgery and 13% (24/179) of those randomised to medical management had received a fundoplication (plus 85% (222/261) and 3% (6/192) of those who expressed a preference for surgery and for medical management). Among responders at 5 years, 44% (56/127) of those randomised to surgery were taking antireflux medication versus 82% (98/119) of those randomised to medical management. Differences in the REFLUX score significantly favoured the randomised surgery group (mean difference 8.5 (95% CI 3.9 to 13.1), P<0.001, at five years). SF-36 and EQ-5D scores also favoured surgery, but were not statistically significant at five years. After fundoplication, 3% (12/364) had surgical treatment for a complication and 4% (16) had subsequent reflux-related operations-most often revision of the wrap. Long term rates of dysphagia, flatulence, and inability to vomit were similar in the two randomised groups.

CONCLUSIONS

After five years, laparoscopic fundoplication continued to provide better relief of GORD symptoms than medical management. Adverse effects of surgery were uncommon and generally observed soon after surgery. A small proportion had re-operations. There was no evidence of long term adverse symptoms caused by surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN15517081.

Impact of minimally invasive surgery on the treatment of benign esophageal disorders

Thanks to the development of minimally invasive surgery, the last 20 years have witnessed a change in the treatment algorithm of benign esophageal disorders. Today a laparoscopic operation is the treatment of choice for esophageal achalasia and for most patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Because the pathogenesis of achalasia is unknown, treatment is palliative and aims to improve esophageal emptying by decreasing the functional obstruction at the level of the gastro-esophageal junction. The refinement of minimally invasive techniques accompanied by large, multiple randomized control trials with long-term outcome has allowed the laparoscopic Heller myotomy and partial fundoplication to become the treatment of choice for achalasia compared to endoscopic procedures, including endoscopic botulinum toxin injection and pneumatic dilatation. Patients with suspected gastroesophageal reflux need to undergo a thorough preoperative workup. After establishing diagnosis, treatment for gastroesophageal reflux should be individualized to patient characteristics and a decision about an operation made jointly between surgeon and patient. The indications for surgery have changed in the last twenty years. In the past, surgery was often considered for patients who did not respond well to acid reducing medications. Today, the best candidate for surgery is the patient who has excellent control of symptoms with proton pump inhibitors. The minimally invasive approach to antireflux surgery has allowed surgeons to control reflux in a safe manner, with excellent long term outcomes. Like achalasia and gastroesophageal reflux, the treatment of patients with paraesophageal hernias has also seen a major evolution. The laparoscopic approach has been shown to be safe, and durable, with good relief of symptoms over the long-term. The most significant controversy with laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair is the optimal crural repair. This manuscript reviews the evolution of these techniques.