Quality of life in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Dynamics of quality of life improvement after floppy Nissen fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease

Introduction

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has a negative impact on global quality of life (QOL) of patients. In patients affected by GERD, laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is one of the most commonly performed laparoscopic procedures worldwide.

Aim

To prospectively analyze the dynamics of QOL as well as severity of pain in patients with GERD, before and after laparoscopic floppy Nissen fundoplication.

Material and methods

The study involved 104 consecutive patients operated on for GERD in whom laparoscopic floppy Nissen fundoplication was performed. QOL was assessed before surgery and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after. The following instruments were used: FACIT-G, FACIT-TS-G, GIQLI, GERD symptom scale.

Results

It was found that symptom relief and quality of life improvement presented different dynamics in the postoperative course. Observations revealed relief of symptoms 1 month after surgery and improvement in QOL related to the gastrointestinal tract and pain 3 months after surgery. Global QOL increased significantly as late as 12 months after surgery.

Conclusions

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a chronic disease of long duration, leading to impairment of quality of life. Patients, apart from typical symptoms of GERD, suffer from pain of significant severity. QOL improves significantly after surgery. Surgical treatment results in relief of GERD symptoms, which leads to gradual improvement of QOL.

Gas-related symptoms after laparoscopic 360 degrees Nissen or 270 degrees Toupet fundoplication in gastrooesophageal reflux disease patients with aerophagia as comorbidity

BACKGROUND

Aerophagia is a rare but well-known comorbidity in patients with gastrooesophageal reflux disease. Particularly after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, it has proven to result in worse symptomatic outcome and a lower postoperative quality of life in comparison to patients without preoperative gas-related symptoms.

AIMS

Aim of the study was to compare the postoperative outcome in gastrooesophageal reflux disease patients with aerophagia as comorbidity after either laparoscopic 360 degrees 'floppy' Nissen fundoplication or 270 degrees Toupet fundoplication with main focus on the frequency and subjective impairment of gas-related symptoms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In 56 gastrooesophageal reflux disease patients, the comorbidity of aerophagia was diagnosed prior to laparoscopic antireflux surgery. Irrespective of their preoperative manometric findings, the patients were either scheduled to a laparoscopic 360 degrees 'floppy' Nissen (n=28) or a laparoscopic 270 degrees Toupet fundoplication (n=28). All patients have been analysed concerning the presence of gas-related symptoms preoperatively as well as 3 months after surgery. Additionally, the subjective degree of impairment was evaluated using a numerous rating scale (0=no perception/impairment, 100=most severe perception/impairment). The following symptoms have been analysed: ability/inability to belch, 'gas bloat', flatulence, postprandial fullness and epigastric pain.

RESULTS

Before surgery, there were no significant differences between both surgical groups. Three months after surgery, significant differences (p<0.05-0.01) were found: patients who underwent a laparoscopic 270 degrees Toupet fundoplication suffered from less impairing gas bloat, flatulence and postprandial fullness when compared with patients with a 360 degrees 'floppy' Nissen fundoplication. The majority of these patients were able to belch postoperatively but felt no impairment due to this symptom. In contrast, patients of the Nissen group felt a significant impairment due to the inability to belch.

CONCLUSION

Gas-related symptoms are very common in gastrooesophageal reflux disease patients with aerophagia as a comorbidity. Patients who undergo a laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication show less impairment in relation to gas-related problems compared with patients treated with a Nissen fundoplication for a follow-up period of at least 3 months. In the Toupet group, the ability to belch postoperatively seems to be a positive aspect from the patients' view which also improves the percentage of gas-related problems. However, long-term results are necessary.

The development of the GERD-HRQL symptom severity instrument

The Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Health Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) instrument was introduced approximately 10 years ago to provide a quantitative method of measuring symptom severity in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Since that time the instrument has been used to assess treatment response to medication, endoscopic procedures, and surgery for GERD. However, the development of the instrument has progressed over the course of several years, and there is no one source which reviews this progress. The purpose of this article is to summarize the development and testing of the GERD-HRQL. The GERD-HRQL was initially developed to measure the typical symptoms of GERD. It was initially determined to have face validity and subsequent studies assessed its content validity, criterion validity, concurrent validity, predictive validity and construct validity. Reliability was determined by the test-retest method. Responsiveness was determined by the effects of treatment. This instrument is practical, with little administrative burden. There are few missing responses. Because there are 51 possible scores, the instrument has a high level of precision; and because of the response anchors, cannot have a floor effect, and only 4/372 patients reached the highest score of 50, implying little ceiling effect. The instrument has been translated into several languages, and appears valid, reliable and practical in each.

Expectations of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease for the outcome of laparoscopic antireflux surgery

Goals of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment are symptom relief, healing of esophagitis, prevention of complications, and prevention of relapses. The aims of the current study were to evaluate a selected group of patients referred to our Department of General Surgery for presurgical examination (N = 70: 41 males and 29 females) for their expectations about laparoscopic antireflux surgery and to compare these expectations with the official medical treatment goals. The leading expectations for laparoscopic antireflux surgery were as follows: (1) for 92.8%, abatement of GERD-related symptoms, especially heartburn, regurgitation, and pain; (2) for 84.3%, a return to normal daily activities and life such as eating and drinking habits, sleeping habits, or work-related aspects; (3) for 72.9%, an improvement in quality of life; (4) for 52.9%, a successful surgical intervention without any complications or side effects; and (5) for 48.6%, protection from a Barrett esophagus and cancer risk. In contrast, only two patients answered that they would expect normalization of pH values and healing of esophagitis. The data show that the majority of patients have clear expectations about laparoscopic antireflux surgery. These expectations are partly related to official medical treatment goals. In general, patient-related aspects of outcome concerning expectations should be included as a standard in all official goals of GERD treatment and also in medical outcome studies. One of these aspects should absolutely be patients' quality of life.