Surgical treatment of GERD: where have we been and where are we going?

Medium-term outcomes after magnetic sphincter augmentation vs. fundoplication for reflux disease due to hiatal hernia: a propensity-score matched comparison in 282 patients

BACKGROUND

An increasing number of reflux patients opt for magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) instead of fundoplication. However, few studies compare the medium-term efficacy and safety of the procedures.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective single-center analysis of consecutive MSA and Nissen fundoplication cases between 01/2015 and 06/2020. Patients underwent surgery, including hiatoplasty, for medical treatment-resistant reflux due to hiatal hernia. Surgical revision and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) reuptake rates were the primary outcomes. We also compared adverse event rates. Patients with severe preoperative dysphagia/motility disorders were assigned different treatment pathways and excluded from the analysis. We used propensity-score matching to reduce confounding between treatments.

RESULTS

Out of 411 eligible patients, 141 patients who underwent MSA and 141 with fundoplication had similar propensity scores and were analyzed. On average, patients were 55 ± 12 years old and overweight (BMI: 28 ± 5). At 3.9 years of mean follow-up, MSA was associated with lower surgical revision risk as compared to fundoplication (1.2% vs 3.0% per year, respectively; HR: 0.38; 95% CI 0.15-0.96; p = 0.04), and similar PPI-reuptake risk (2.6% vs 4.2% per year; HR: 0.59; 95% CI 0.30-1.16; p = 0.12). Adverse event rates during primary stay were similar (MSA vs. fundoplication: 1% vs. 3%, p = 0.68). Fewer patients experienced adverse events in the MSA group after discharge (24% vs. 33%, p = 0.11), driven by higher rates of self-limiting dysphagia (1% vs. 9%, p < 0.01) and gas/bloating (10% vs. 18%, p = 0.06) after fundoplication. Differences between MSA and fundoplication in dysphagia requiring diagnostic endoscopy (11% vs. 8%, p = 0.54) or surgical revision (2% vs. 1%, p = 1.0) were non-significant. The device explantation rate was 4% (5/141).

CONCLUSION

MSA reduces the re-operation risk compared to fundoplication and may decrease adverse event rates after discharge. Randomized head-to-head studies between available surgical options are needed.

Laparoscopic fundoplication versus laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in obese patients: protocol for a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) is the standard surgical procedure for the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is commonly performed to achieve weight loss in obese patients, but it also has anti-reflux properties. Hence, in the obese population suffering from GORD, LRYGB could be an alternative to LF. The aim of this trial will be to compare LF and LRYGB in an obese population presenting with GORD and being considered for surgery.

METHODS

This will be an investigator-initiated randomized clinical trial. The research population will be obese patients (BMI 30-34.9 with waist circumference more than 88 cm (women) or more than 102 cm (men), or BMI 35-40 with any waist circumference) referred to a public hospital for consideration of anti-reflux surgery. The primary aim of the study will be to determine the efficacy of LF compared with LRYGB on subjective and objective control of GORD. Secondary aims include determining early and late surgical morbidity and the side-effect profile of LF compared with LRYGB and to quantify any non-reflux benefits of LRYGB (including overall quality of life) compared with LF.

CONCLUSION

This trial will determine whether LRYGB is effective and acceptable as an alternative to LF for the surgical treatment of GORD in obese patients Registration number: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12622000636752p (https://www.anzctr.org.au/).

How to choose among fundoplication, magnetic sphincter augmentation or transoral incisionless fundoplication

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To examine current trends and research in nonmedical approaches to the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

RECENT FINDINGS

Long-term studies of GERD patients treated with transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) have found that a large portion of patients resume proton pump inhibitor therapy. In patients with uncomplicated GERD, magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) shows excellent short-term results in both patient satisfaction and physiologic measures of GERD, with fewer postoperative side-effects than fundoplication, although dysphagia can be problematic.

SUMMARY

Fundoplication remains the standard of care for patients with GERD complicated by hiatal hernias more than 2 cm, Barrett's esophagus and/or grade C and D erosive esophagitis. For the patient with uncomplicated GERD, MSA appears to be a viable alternative that has greater technical standardization and fewer postoperative side-effects than fundoplication. TIF remains an option for patients with refractory GERD who refuse surgical intervention.

[Current issues on gastroesophageal reflux disease]

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common problems in gastrointestinal disorders. With the increase in our understanding on the pathophysiology of GERD along with the development of proton pump inhibitors, the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to GERD have changed dramatically over the past decade. However, GERD still poses a problem to many clinicians since the spectrum of the disease has evolved to encompass more challenging presentations such as refractory GERD and extraesophageal manifestations. This has led to significant confusion regarding the optimal approach to these patients. This article aims to discuss current issues on GERD.

The management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

If there are no features of serious disease, suspected gastro-oesophageal reflux disease can be initially managed with a trial of a proton pump inhibitor for 4-8 weeks. This should be taken 30-60 minutes before food for optimal effect. Once symptoms are controlled, attempt to withdraw acid suppression therapy. If symptoms recur, use the minimum dose that controls symptoms. Patients who have severe erosive oesophagitis, scleroderma oesophagus or Barrett's oesophagus require long-term treatment with a proton pump inhibitor. Lifestyle modification strategies can help gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Weight loss has the strongest evidence for efficacy. Further investigation and a specialist referral are required if there is no response to proton pump inhibitor therapy. Atypical symptoms or signs of serious disease also need investigation.

Minimally invasive gastrectomy for cancer: current utilization in US academic medical centers

BACKGROUND

Internationally, the utilization of minimally invasive techniques for gastric cancer resection has been increasing since first introduced in 1994. In the USA, the feasibility and safety of these techniques for cancer have not yet been demonstrated.

METHODS

The University HealthSystem Consortium database was queried for gastrectomies performed between 2008 and 2013. Any adult patient with an abdominal visceral malignancy that necessitated gastric resection was included in the cohort. Clinicopathological and in-hospital outcome metrics were collected for open, laparoscopic, and robotic procedures.

RESULTS

Open gastrectomies comprised 89.5% of the total study group, while 8.2% of procedures were performed laparoscopically, and 2.3% were performed with robotic assistance. When accounting for disparities in patient severity of illness and risk of mortality subclass designations, there were no significant differences in mean length of stay, 30-day readmission, and in-hospital mortality between the three groups; however, mean total cost was highest in the robotic-assisted group (P = 0.017). Overall, complication rates were also similar; however, there was a higher incidence of superficial infection in the laparoscopic group (P = 0.013) and a higher incidence of venous thromboembolism in the robotic group (P = 0.038).

CONCLUSION

Despite widespread adoption for benign indications, minimally invasive gastrectomy for cancer remains underutilized in the USA. In these patients, laparoscopic and robot-assisted gastrectomies appear to be comparable to open resection with respect to overall complications, length of stay, 30-day readmission, and in-hospital mortality. However, when employing minimally invasive techniques, infection and thromboembolism risk reduction strategies should be emphasized in the operative and postoperative periods.