Endoscopic, endoluminal fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease: initial experience and lessons learned. Surgery. 2010;148:646-651; discussion 651-653. [PMID: 20708763 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2010.07.031]

Endoscopic Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

There have been many devices and ideas to treat reflux disease endoscopically. Several devices have been tried and even FDA approved but now are no longer used. The push for these therapies is to find effective reflux control with lower risk and faster recovery. In this article we describe an endoscopic suturing device (TIF), radiofrequency device (Stretta) and a newer technique that has a lot of promise called antireflux mucosectomy. All these procedures seem to help control reflux at a minimum of morbidity given current information. As reflux is so prevalent a shift to these techniques for appropriate patients is likely to improve patient care.

Practice-Changing Milestones in Anti-reflux and Hiatal Hernia Surgery: a Single Surgeon Perspective over 27 years and 1200 Operations

BACKGROUND

There have been steady innovations in hiatal hernia and anti-reflux surgery. The purpose of this article is to provide a historical perspective on practice-changing innovations in the context a single surgeon experience's over a career.

METHODS

Patients undergoing anti-reflux surgery or hiatal hernia repair by a single surgeon from 12/1992 to 3/2020 were reviewed.

DATA COLLECTED

sex, age, hiatal hernia type, operation type, adjuncts used, and additional procedure performed during index operation. Superimposed on this experience are the practice-changing innovations that occurred over this timeframe.

RESULTS

During the time period, 1200 operations were performed. Distributions: Hernia type: I, 707 (58.9%); II-IV, 325 (27.1%); Recurrent/Failed, 168 (14.0%). Type of operation, including laparoscopic and open: Nissen fundoplication: 889 (74.1%); Toupet fundoplication: 162 (13.5%); Collis-Nissen/Toupet fundoplication: 44 (3.7%); hiatal hernia repair without fundoplication (laparoscopic and open): 38 (3.2%); endoluminal fundoplication: 35 (2.9%); hiatal hernia repair with Heller myotomy/ Dor fundoplication: 10 (0.8%); transthoracic Belsey Mark IV: 2 (0.2%); hiatal hernia repair with magnetic sphincter augmentation: 20 (1.7%). Mesh reinforcement: 185 (15.4%). Additional procedures, 210 (17.5%). During this time, these practice-changing innovations occurred: laparoscopic surgery, 48-h pH monitoring, high-resolution manometry, tailoring of fundoplication, energy sources for tissue division and hemostasis, pyloroplasty for symptomatic gastroparesis, the rise and fall of endoluminal therapies, mesh reinforcement, abandonment of short gastric vessel division, and magnetic sphincter augmentation.

CONCLUSIONS

Over the last 27 years, a number of practice-changing advances have been made. These have led to changes in technique and operation selection of anti-reflux and hiatal hernia surgery.

Pepsin and Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Carcinomas

Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas are common malignant tumors of the head and neck, and the incidence of both is increasing. Laryngopharyngeal reflux refers to the retrograde flow of gastric contents into the larynx, oropharynx, and/or nasopharynx. It remains controversial whether laryngopharyngeal reflux is a risk factor for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. The refluxing substances mainly include hydrochloric acid, pepsin, and occasionally bile acids and bile salts, as well as bacteria that colonize the gastrointestinal tract. Loss of epithelium in the mucous membrane of the larynx and hypopharynx is thought to be caused by pepsin. Here, we review the relationships between laryngopharyngeal reflux and both laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas, as well as the significance of pepsin, methods of clinical detection, and the mechanism of carcinogenesis.

The evolution of TIF: transoral incisionless fundoplication

Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) was introduced in 2006 as a concerted effort to produce a natural orifice procedure for reflux. Since that time, the device, as well as the procedure technique, has evolved. Significant research has been published during each stage of the evolution, and this has led to considerable confusion and a co-mingling of outcomes, which obscures the results of the current device and procedure. This report is intended to review the identified stages and literature associated with each stage to date and to review the current state of treatment outcomes.

Endoscopic GERD therapy: a primer for the transoral incisionless fundoplication procedure

Patients with medically refractory GERD have the option of surgery but may opt for effective minimally invasive interventions, when available. However, the primary GERD pharmacologic therapy, proton pump inhibitors, does not satisfactorily address the pathophysiology of the disease. Moreover, a therapeutic gap exists in those severely symptomatic patients who fail medical management and who are poor candidates for surgical fundoplication. Recently, a revival of minimally invasive endoscopic interventions aiming to correct the antireflux barrier has followed existing device modifications, enhancing their safety and efficacy profile. Of these technologies, the trans-oral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) technique, in its current 2.0 iteration, has been studied in several randomized controlled trials with favorable outcomes and a low rate of adverse events. In this review, we discuss the landscape of endoscopic GERD therapy, focusing on recent updates in the TIF 2.0 procedure with the EsophyX-Z device (EndoGastricSolutions, Redmond, Wash, USA). We discuss the evolution, differences, and improvements in this technique across different generations of the EsophyX device. We also present a framework for candidate selection, based on medical and anatomic considerations. When streamlined within a milieu of comprehensive multidisciplinary programs, these improved endoscopic interventions can provide viable avenues for a carefully selected patients population, bridging therapy gaps, and selectively targeting the primary pathophysiology of the disease.

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.

2014 SSAT State-of-the-Art Conference: advances in diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease affects at least 10 % of people in Western societies and produces troublesome symptoms and impairs patients' quality of life. The effective management of GERD is imperative as the diagnosis places a significant cost burden on the United States healthcare system with annual direct cost estimates exceeding 9 billion dollars annually. While effective for many patients, 30-40 % of patients receiving medical therapy with proton pump inhibitors experience troublesome breakthrough symptoms, and recent evidence suggests that this therapy subjects patients to increased risk of complications. Given the high cost of PPI therapy, patients are showing a decrease in willingness to continue with a therapy that provides incomplete relief; however, due to inconsistent outcomes and concern for procedure-related side effects following surgery, only 1 % of the GERD population undergoes anti-reflux surgery annually. The discrepancy between the number of patients who experience suboptimal medical treatment and the number considered for anti-reflux surgery indicates a large therapeutic gap in the management of GERD. The objective of the SSAT State-of-the-Art Conference was to examine technologic advances in the diagnosis and treatment of GERD and to evaluate the ways in which we assess the outcomes of these therapies to provide optimal patient care.

Revision of failed transoral incisionless fundoplication by subsequent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication

AIM: To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication after failed transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF).

METHODS: TIF is a new endoscopic approach for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In cases of TIF failure, subsequent laparoscopic fundoplication may be required. All patients from 2010 to 2013 who had persistence and objective evidence of recurrent GERD after TIF underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. Primary outcome measures included operative time, blood loss, length of hospital stay and complications encountered.

RESULTS: A total of 5 patients underwent revisional laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) or gastrojejunostomy for recurrent GERD at a median interval of 24 mo (range: 16-34 mo) after TIF. Patients had recurrent reflux symptoms at an average of 1 mo following TIF (range: 1-9 mo). Average operative time for revisional surgical intervention was 127 min (range: 65-240 min) and all surgeries were performed with a minimal blood loss (< 50 mL). There were no cases of gastric or esophageal perforation. Three patients had additional finding of a significant hiatal hernia that was fixed simultaneously. Median length of hospitalization was 2 d (range: 1-3 d). All patients had resolution of symptoms at the last follow up.

CONCLUSION: LNF is a feasible and safe option in a patient who has persistent GERD after a TIF. Previous TIF did not result in additional operative morbidity.

Long-term efficacy of transoral incisionless fundoplication with Esophyx (Tif 2.0) and factors affecting outcomes in GERD patients followed for up to 6 years: a prospective single-center study

BACKGROUND

Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) with the EsophyX™ device creates an antireflux valve with good functional results in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of this study was to assess the long-term effect of TIF 2.0 on pathological reflux and symptoms in GERD patients with daily dependence on proton pump inhibitors (PPI).

METHODS

Fifty patients underwent TIF. All underwent GERD-HRQL and GERD-QUAL questionnaires, upper GI endoscopy, esophageal manometry, and 24-h pH-impedance before and 6, 12, and 24 months after TIF, and subsequent yearly clinical re-evaluation.

RESULTS

Patients were followed for up to six years (mean 52.7 ± 19.7 months). In all, 83.7, 79.6, 87.8, and 84.4% of patients stopped or halved the PPI therapy 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after TIF. Three-year figure remained stable up to 6 years. Symptom scores off PPI were significantly lower at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. At 6 months, Hill's grade I of the newly created valve persisted in all pre-procedure Hill's grade I patients, in 66.7% of grade II and 58.3% of grade III. This figure remained substantially unchanged at 12 and 24 months, too. Impedance monitoring indicated significantly fewer total and acid refluxes after treatment (p = 0.01). Factors predicting good outcomes were pre-procedure Hill's grade I-II, no hiatal hernia or hernia ≤2 cm (p = 0.03), absence of ineffective esophageal motility (p < 0.0001), and number of fasteners deployed (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

TIF by the EsophyX achieved lasting elimination of daily dependence on PPI in 75-80% of patients for up to 6 years. TIF seems an effective therapy for selected symptomatic GERD patients.

Esophgeal Perforation and Bilateral Empyema Following Endoscopic EsophyX Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication

Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) has been used for endoscopic treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). TIF using the EsophyX device system (EndoGastric Solutions) was designed to create a full-thickness valve at the gastroesophageal junction through the insertion of multiple fasteners; it improves GERD, reduces proton pump inhibitor use, and improves quality of life. Although TIF is effective in select patients, a significant subset of patients undergoing TIF develop persistent or recurrent GERD symptoms and may need antireflux surgery to control the GERD symptoms. We now report a 48-year-old man with chronic GERD unresponsive to medical management. He underwent TIF complicated by esophageal perforation and developed mediastinitis, left pneumothorax, bilateral pleural effusions, and acute respiratory failure. He required chest tube placement and bilateral decortication for treatment of nonresolving empyemas. Additional postmarketing studies are required to assess the safety, efficacy, and clinical outcomes of this novel procedure, and patients undergoing this procedure need close postprocedural follow-up.

Outcomes of esophageal surgery, especially of the lower esophageal sphincter

This paper includes commentaries on outcomes of esophageal surgery, including the mechanisms by which fundoduplication improves lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure; the efficacy of the Linx™ management system in improving LES function; the utility of radiologic characterization of antireflux valves following surgery; the correlation between endoscopic findings and reported symptoms following antireflux surgery; the links between laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and decreased LES pressure, endoscopic esophagitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); the less favorable outcomes following fundoduplication among obese patients; the application of bioprosthetic meshes to reinforce hiatal repair and decrease the incidence of paraesophageal hernia; the efficacy of endoluminal antireflux procedures, and the limited efficacy of revisional antireflux operations, underscoring the importance of good primary surgery and diligent work-up to prevent the necessity of revisional procedures.

Impact of transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) on subjective and objective GERD indices: a systematic review of the published literature

BACKGROUND

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains a significant problem for the medical community. Many endoluminal treatments for GERD have been developed with little success. Currently, transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) attempts to recreate a surgical fundoplication through placement of full-thickness polypropylene H-fasteners. This, the most recent procedure to gain FDA approval, has shown some promise in the early data. However, questions of its safety profile, efficacy, and durability remain.

METHODS

The Cochrane Library and MEDLINE through PubMed were searched to identify published studies reporting on subjective and objective GERD indices after TIF. The search was limited to human studies published in English from 2006 up to March 2012. Data collected included GERD-HRQL and RSI scores, PPI discontinuation and patient satisfaction rates, pH study metrics, complications, and treatment failures. Statistical analysis was performed with weighted t tests.

RESULTS

Titles and abstracts of 214 papers were initially reviewed. Fifteen studies were found to be eligible, reporting on over 550 procedures. Both GERD-HRQL scores (21.9 vs. 5.9, p < 0.0001) and RSI scores (24.5 vs. 5.4, p ≤ 0.0001) were significantly reduced after TIF. Overall patient satisfaction was 72 %. The overall rate of PPI discontinuation was 67 % across all studies, with a mean follow-up of 8.3 months. pH metrics were not consistently normalized. The major complication rate was 3.2 % and the failure rate was 7.2 % across all studies.

CONCLUSION

TIF appears to provide symptomatic relief with reasonable levels of patient satisfaction at short-term follow-up. A well-designed prospective clinical trial is needed to assess the effectiveness and durability of TIF as well as to identify the patient population that will benefit from this procedure.

Transoral incisionless fundoplication does not significantly increase morbidity of subsequent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication

INTRODUCTION

Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) has been used for endoscopic treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Full-thickness polypropylene H-fasteners create a serosa-to-serosa gastroesophageal plication. A certain subset of TIF patients will require subsequent antireflux surgery to achieve adequate reflux control, and it is unknown whether this procedure increases the technical difficulty of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for recurrent GERD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 2008 and 2010, patients demonstrating objective evidence of recurrent gastroesophageal reflux following TIF using the Esophyx device (Endogastric Solutions, Redmond, WA) underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. The study end points included operative time, operative blood loss, gastric or esophageal perforation, and length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

In total, 7 patients underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for recurrent GERD at a median interval of 7 (range, 3-28) months after TIF. Revisional fundoplication required 97 (range, 48-122) minutes and was performed in all cases with minimal blood loss. There were no cases of esophageal or gastric perforation during the dissection of the previous fundoplication. A significant hiatal hernia was noted during 1 case, and all others revealed partially disrupted gastroesophageal fundoplications with visible dislodged polypropylene H-fasteners visible. All patients were discharged from the hospital on the first postoperative day.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe recurrent gastroesophageal reflux necessitating laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication occurs in a subset of patients following TIF. In this series, previous TIF did not result in prolonged operative times, significant operative hemorrhage, or iatrogenic hollow viscus injury. These data suggest that laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication can be safely performed in this patient population without increased operative morbidity.

Diagnosis of Type-I hiatal hernia: a comparison of high-resolution manometry and endoscopy

Sliding Type-I hiatal hernia is commonly diagnosed using upper endoscopy, barium swallow or less commonly, esophageal manometry. Current data suggest that endoscopy is superior to barium swallow or esophageal manometry. Recently, high-resolution manometry has become available for the assessment of esophageal motility. This novel technology is capable of displaying spatial and topographic pressure profiles of gastroesophageal junction and crural diaphragm in real time. The objective of the current study was to compare the specificity and sensitivity of high-resolution manometry and endoscopy in the diagnosis of sliding hiatal hernia in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Data were analyzed retrospectively for 83 consecutive patients (61% females, mean age 52 ± 13.2 years) with objective gastroesophageal reflux disease who were considered for laparoscopic antireflux surgery between January 2006 and January 2009 and had preoperative high-resolution manometry and endoscopy. Manometrically, hiatal hernia was defined as separation of the gastroesophageal junction >2.0 cm from the crural diaphragm. Intraoperative diagnosis of hiatal hernia was used as the gold standard. Sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios of a positive test and a negative test were used to compare the performance of the two diagnostic modalities. Forty-two patients were found to have a Type-I sliding hiatal hernia (>2 cm) during surgery. Twenty-two patients had manometric criteria for a hiatal hernia by high-resolution manometry, and 36 patients were described as having a hiatal hernia by preoperative endoscopy. False positive results were significantly fewer (higher specificity) with high-resolution manometry as compared with endoscopy (4.88% vs. 31.71%, P= 0.01). There were no significant differences in the false negative results (sensitivity) between the two diagnostic modalities (47.62% vs. 45.24%, P= 0.62). Analysis of likelihood ratios of a positive and negative test demonstrated that high-resolution manometry is better than endoscopy both to rule out and rule in a hiatal hernia. A significant discordance was also observed between the two tests (P= 0.033). High-resolution manometry has better specificity and ability to rule out an overt Type-I sliding hiatal hernia (greater likelihood ratio of a positive test) in patients with GERD. Because of high false negative results, both high-resolution manometry and endoscopy are unreliable for ruling in a hiatal hernia. Negative result for a hiatal hernia by either modality mandates additional testing.

Three-year results of a multicenter prospective study of transoral incisionless fundoplication

BACKGROUND

To date, there are no long-term data on the use of transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) for the treatment of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We sought to prospectively evaluate the long-term safety and durability of TIF in a multi-center setting.

METHODS

A longitudinal per protocol (PP) and a modified intention-to-treat (mITT) analysis at 1 and 3 years consisted of symptom evaluation using the GERD health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) questionnaire, medication use, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and pH-metry.

RESULTS

Of 79 patients previously reported at 1 year, 12 were lost to follow-up, and 1 died from an unrelated cause. The remaining 66 patients were followed up and analyzed (mITT). Of 66 patients, 12 underwent revisional procedures, leaving 54 patients for PP analysis at a median of 3.1 years (range = 2.9-3.6). No adverse events related to TIF were reported at 2- or 3-year follow-up. On PP analysis, median GERD-HRQL score off proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) improved significantly to 4 (range 0-32) from both off (25 [13-38], P < .0001) and on (9 [0-22], P < .0001) PPIs. Discontinuation of daily PPIs was sustained in 61% (mITT) and 74% (PP) of patients. Of 11 patients with pH data at 3 years (PP), 9 (82%) remained normal. Based on mITT analysis, 9/23 (39%) remained normal at 3 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical outcomes at 3 years following TIF, patient satisfaction, healing of erosive esophagitis, and cessation of PPI medication support long-term safety and durability of the TIF procedure for those with initial treatment success. Although complete normalization of pH studies occurred in a minority of patients, successful cases showed long-term durability.

Managing gastroesophageal reflux disease in children: The role of endoscopy

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a growing problem in the pediatric population and recent advances in diagnostics and therapeutics have improved their management, particularly the use of esophago-gastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Most of the current knowledge is derived from studies in adults; however there are distinct features between infant onset and adult onset GERD. Children are not just little adults and attention must be given to the stages of growth and development and how these stages impact the disease management. Although there is a lack of a gold standard test to diagnose GERD in children, EGD with biopsy is essential to assess the type and severity of tissue damage. To date, the role of endoscopy in adults and children has been to assess the extent of esophagitis and detect metaplastic changes complicating GERD; however the current knowledge points another role for the EGD with biopsy that is to rule out other potential causes of esophagitis in patients with GERD symptoms such as eosinophilic esophagitis. This review highlights special considerations about the role of EGD in the management of children with GERD.

Transoral incisionless fundoplication with EsophyX® for treatment of gastro-oesphageal reflux disease

Gastro-oesphageal reflux disease results primarily from the loss of an effective antireflux barrier, which forms a mechanical barrier against the retrograde movement of gastric content. This review describes the technique of performing a transoral incisionless fundoplication with the EsophyX® device. Transoral incisionless fundoplication reconfigures the tissue so as to establish serosa-to-serosa plications which include the muscular layers, and construct 3-5 cm long valves 200-300° in circumference. The steps of the technique, as well as complications and their management are described in detail, and a recent literature review is also provided. At present, available prospective cohort studies indicate that transoral incisionless fundoplication using the EsophyX® device may be effective in approximately half PPI-responsive gastro-oesphageal reflux disease for up to 3 years' follow-up, without troublesome procedure-related persistent side effects.

Endoscopic management of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a review

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is the most common esophageal disorder encountered in the United States. Gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms are associated with a negative quality of life and increased healthcare costs and therefore require an effective management strategy. Although proton pump inhibitors remain the primary treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, they do not cure the disorder and can leave patients with persistent symptoms despite treatment. Moreover, patients are still at risk of developing such complications as peptic strictures, Barrett's metaplasia, and esophageal cancer. Although laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has been the conventional alternative treatment for those patients who develop complications of gastroesophageal reflux disease, have intractable symptoms, or wish to discontinue taking proton pump inhibitors, investigators have persisted in developing a number of endoscopic approaches to the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The present report reviews the history of endoscopic treatments devised for the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease and explores the published data and outcomes associated with the latest approach-endoscopic fundoplication using the EsophyX2 device.

Effectiveness of a transluminal endoscopic fundoplication for the treatment of pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease

PURPOSE

Although laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is the standard surgical treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), surgical complications and post-operative pain are not uncommon, especially for those patients who are neurologically impaired (NI) or undergoing re-operative procedures. To address this challenge, we utilized the transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) procedure to treat GERD via an endoscopic approach.

METHODS

Eleven TIF patients were included with an average age of 16.5 ± 5.1 years and weight of 45.7 ± 13.3 kg. NI was present in nine patients (82%), including a predominant number of patients with a history of seizures and gastrostomy tube feeding. Five patients had a history of a previous failed fundoplication requiring a re-operative procedure (45%). A retrospective chart review evaluated patient outcomes and post-operative complications.

RESULTS

The length of the TIF procedure was 113.3 ± 31.3 min with minimal blood loss. The length of stay was 1.2 ± 0.4 days, although one TIF patient was re-admitted for endoscopic clipping for gastric bleeding. At a follow-up of 8.2 ± 4.2 months, TIF effectively resolved GERD in 10 out of 11 children. A few of the patient's families reported complaints of gagging or dysphagia (30%, 3/11); however it was difficult to determine if complaints were due the procedures itself or baseline NI. All patients who had a follow-up upper GI or pH probe study showed no evidence of reflux. One TIF patient had no recurrent reflux but required an esophago-gastric disconnection for retching.

CONCLUSIONS

The TIF procedure can complement the current surgically and medically available options for children with GERD, especially in complicated patients such as those with NI. However, complications including hemorrhage emphasize the potential risk of the procedure. Further studies with more patients and a longer follow-up course must be conducted to better assess efficacy.

Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF 2.0) with EsophyX for gastroesophageal reflux disease: long-term results and findings affecting outcome

INTRODUCTION

Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) with the EsophyX(™) device is reported to be effective for creating a continent gastroesophageal valve and for good functional results, as measured by pH impedance in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of this study is to assess the long-term effect of TIF in patients with symptomatic GERD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

TIF 2.0 fundoplication was done in 42 consecutive patients. All were studied with GERD-HRQL and GERD-QUAL questionnaires, upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, esophageal manometry, and 24 h pH impedance before and at 6, 12, and 24 months after TIF.

RESULTS

In all, 35 patients completed 6-month follow-up; 21 (60.0%) completely stopped proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, 6 (17.1%) more than halved it, and 8 (22.9%) continued with the same dose as before the procedure. There were 26 patients with complete 24-month follow-up; 11 (42.3%) completely stopped PPI therapy, 7 (26.9%) more than halved it, and 8 (30.8%) were taking the same dose as before the procedure. Hiatal hernia and ineffective esophageal motility seemed to raise the risk of recurrence of symptoms (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively). The number of fasteners deployed during TIF was the only factor predictive of successful outcome (p = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

TIF using the EsophyX device allowed withdrawal or reduction of PPI in about 77% of patients at 6-month follow-up and about 69% at 24 months. Larger number of fasteners deployed during TIF was predictive of positive outcome; pre-TIF ineffective esophageal motility and hiatal hernia raised the risk of recurrence of GERD symptoms, but were not significant from a prospective point of view.

Endoscopic fundoplication for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease: initial experience

OBJECTIVE

Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) is a promising approach for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that may decrease morbidity compared with conventional antireflux procedures. We report our initial experience with this minimally invasive approach.

METHODS

Over a 24-month period, 46 patients (mean age, 49 years; 50% female) underwent 48 TIF procedures. All procedures were performed under general anesthesia. Two surgeons participated in all cases; one served as the endoscopist, and the other performed the partial fundoplication. Heartburn severity was measured using the GERD health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) instrument (best score = 0, worst score = 45), which includes an additional question assessing overall satisfaction.

RESULTS

Preoperatively, 33 (72%) of 46 patients had small (<3 cm) hiatal hernias, and none had undergone any previous antireflux procedures. Preoperative workup included manometry and barium esophagogram, with pH testing reserved for patients with atypical symptoms or typical symptoms and a lack of response to proton-pump inhibitors. The mean procedure time was 83 minutes (range, 36-180 minutes). The mean procedure time decreased after the first 5 cases from 122 to 78 minutes (P = .001). Mean length of stay was 1.3 days. One patient was readmitted with aspiration pneumonia. Three patients had minor complications (1 had minor bleeding from a suture site and 2 had urinary retention). There were no perioperative deaths. Mean follow-up was 140 days. The mean GERD-HRQL scores improved significantly (23 vs 7; P < .001). There were 22 patients with follow-up greater than 90 days (mean follow-up, 240 days). GERD-HRQL scores remained significantly improved for these patients (23 vs 8; P = .001). Four patients from the entire group (8.6%) had no improvement, in 3 instances due to breakdown of the wrap. Two patients were treated with repeat endoscopic fundoplication and 1 was treated with laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, and all had a significant improvement in symptoms after reoperation.

CONCLUSIONS

TIF is effective at short-term follow-up and safe for patients with GERD. However, long-term follow-up and randomized trials are required to assess the efficacy and durability of this approach compared with conventional surgical repair.

Comprehensive evaluation of endoscopic fundoplication using the EsophyX™ device

BACKGROUND

There are limited studies that evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic fundoplication (EF) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with the EsophyX™ device, especially with the most recent procedural iteration (TIF-2). This study was a prospective evaluation of our early experience with this device and procedure.

METHODS

Data were collected prospectively on 23 consecutive patients undergoing EF (March 2009 to August 2010). All patients completed a symptom questionnaire assessing frequency and severity of gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms, 24-h pH, and manometry studies preoperatively and were encouraged to repeat these at 6 months.

RESULTS

All patients had abnormal pH studies and were on proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy prior to EF. Median age was 47 years (19-62 years), and six (23%) were male. Nine (41%) patients had Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m(2), and three (14%) had a small hiatal hernia (≤ 2 cm). The procedure was aborted in two patients for retained food. Three patients underwent subsequent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for persistent or recurrent symptoms. Median hospitalization was 1 day, and there were no major perioperative complications. At 6 month follow-up, 19 (86%) patients completed a symptom questionnaire, and 14 (64%) and 11 (50%) patients underwent pH and manometry studies, respectively. There was a significant reduction in heartburn (P = 0.02), total percentage acid contact time (P = 0.002), DeMeester score (P = 0.002), and PPI use (P = 0.003). Overall, 8 out of 14 (57%) patients had abnormal pH studies and 11 out of 19 (58%) remained on PPI therapy at 6 months.

CONCLUSION

EF with EsophyX™ is associated with significant reduction in heartburn and abnormal acid exposure at 6 months, although the majority of patients did not experience normalization of their pH studies and remained on PPI therapy. The procedure has an acceptable safety profile, but the question remains as to whether it is effective enough to warrant a place in the armamentarium for the treatment of GERD.