LATE EVALUATION OF PATIENTS OPERATED FOR GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE BY NISSEN FUNDOPLICATION

Pressure dynamics of the esophagogastric junction at rest and during inspiratory maneuvers after Nissen fundoplication

Low sphincter pressure and inability of the crural diaphragm to elevate it at the esophagogastric junction are important pathophysiological mechanisms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The object of this study was to depict how Nissen fundoplication changed the resting and inspiratory pressures of the anti-reflux barrier. We selected 14 patients (eight males; mean age 42.7 years; mean body mass index 27.8) for surgery. They answered symptoms questionnaires and underwent high-resolution manometry (HRM) before and 6 months after Nissen fundoplication. We used a standard manometric protocol (resting and liquid swallows) and assessment of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) pressure metrics during standardized forced inspiratory maneuvers against increasing loads (Threshold Maneuvers). We used the Wilcoxon test for comparison of pre and postoperative data. After fundoplication, heartburn and regurgitation scores diminished remarkably (from 4.5 and 2, respectively, to zero; P = 0.002 and P = 0.0005, respective medians). Also, the median expiratory EGJ pressure had a significant increase from 8.1 to 18.1 mmHg (P = 0.002), while mean respiratory pressure and EGJ contractility integral (EGJ-CI) increased without statistical significance (P = 0.064 and P = 0.06, respectively). Axial EGJ displacement was lower after fundoplication. The EGJ relaxation pressure (P = 0.001), the mean distal esophageal intrabolus pressure (P = 0.01) and the distal latency (P = 0.017) increased after fundoplication. There was a reduction in the contraction front velocity (P = 0.043). During evaluation with standardized inspiratory maneuvers, the inspiratory EGJ pressures (under loads of 12, 24, 36 and 48 cmH2O) were lower after surgery for all loads (median for load 12 cmH2O: 145.6 vs. 102.7 mmHg; P = 0.004). Fundoplication and hiatal closure increased the expiratory EGJ pressure and promoted a great GERD symptom relief. The surgery seemed to overcompensate a reduced EGJ mobility and inspiratory pressure.

Long-term (15-year) objective evaluation of 150 patients after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is the preferred operative treatment for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. The most recent published results only refer to clinical evaluations and few discuss objective measurements. Our purpose was to determine the late results of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, performing clinical, endoscopic, histologic, and functional studies.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 179 patients were included in a prospective study. All had gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms of at least 5-year duration, daily dependence on proton pump inhibitors, and a type I hiatal hernia less than 5 cm. Exclusion criteria included Barrett's esophagus, hiatal hernia >5 cm, failed antireflux surgery, and obesity (body mass index >30). We performed a radiologic study, 3 or more endoscopic procedures with biopsy samples of the antrum and esophagogastric junction, esophageal manometry, and 24-hour pH monitoring.

RESULTS

We found that 4 patients (2.2%) died 3-4 years after operation from nonoperatiove reasons. A total of 25 patients (14%) were lost to follow-up, and 150 patients (83.8%) submitted to late objective evaluations (15 years). Visick I-II symptoms were observed in 79.3% and III-IV (failures) in 20.7%. Endoscopy showed a normal positioning of the esophagogastric junction in the Visick I-II patients and a type III cardia or hiatal hernia with erosive esophagitis in Visick III-IV patients. Short-segment Barrett's esophagus developed in 5.3% of patients. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure remained increased over the preoperative value in all groups. The 24-hour pH monitoring also was decreased over the preoperative value in Visick I-II patients but showed no significant change in Visick III-IV patients. Carditis at the esophagogastric junction regressed to fundic mucosa in 50% of Visick I-II patients.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication produces control of symptoms in 80% of patients late (up to 15 years) after surgeries corroborated by endoscopic, histologic examinations, and functional studies. It is essential to perform these objective evaluations to demonstrate the "antireflux effect" after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.

QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER VERTICAL GASTRECTOMY EVALUATED BY THE BAROS QUESTIONNAIRE

BACKGROUND

The satisfactory outcome in the surgical treatment of obesity must include, in addition to weight loss, a significant change in the pre-existing comorbidities and in the quality of life of the patients.

AIM

To evaluate the quality of life in the late postoperative period in patients that underwent videolaparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

METHODS

Was applied the questionnaire "Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System" (BAROS) in patients that underwent videolaparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

RESULTS

A total of 47 patients between 21-60 years old were evaluated. The total mean of the BMI before surgery was 43.06±5.87 kg/m². The average percentage of the reduction of excess weight after surgery was 85.46±23.6%. The score obtained by patients in the questionnaire about the improvement in the quality of life showed excellent (36.17%), very good (40.43%), good (21.28%) and reasonable (2.13%) results. There was clinical improvement after surgery in all comorbidities investigated.

CONCLUSION

BAROS showed excellent results in 36.17%, very good in 40.43%, good in 21.28% and reasonable in 2.13%. The weight loss was critical to improve the quality of life and offered the resolution or clinical improvement in all of the investigated comorbidities.

PRE AND POSTOPERATIVE PH MONITORING AND WEIGHT LOSS ANALYSIS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING GASTRIC PLICATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH FUNDOPLICATION

BACKGROUND

Obese patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease with pathological pH monitoring result may benefit from surgical treatment which is based on the fundoplication technique in association with laparoscopic gastric plication. The Nissen surgery is the gold standard for surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, whereas laparoscopic gastric plication is a restrictive surgery that consists of the invagination of the greater curvature, resulting in weight loss.

AIM

To compare pre and postoperative pHmetry results and to evaluate weight loss in patients submitted to gastroplasty with fundoplication.

METHOD

Sixteen patients with class I body mass index with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux with changes of stomach pH and/or erosive esophagitis seen in endoscopy were selected The evaluation of the weight and 24-h pH monitoring was performed preoperatively and postoperatively. The weight, body mass index, percentage of excess weight loss and DeMeester score of patients that underwent the surgery were evaluated pre and postoperatively.

RESULTS

Regarding pH monitoring, the average preoperative DeMeester index was 28.7, which was followed by a significant postoperative average reduction to 2.8 (p<0,001). Regarding the weight reduction, the average of weight loss was 13.6 kg and body mass index of 5.3 kg/m2 (p<0.001). Furthermore, the average percentage of excess weight loss was 53.9% (standard deviation=26.2).

CONCLUSION

The combination of Nissen surgery and gastric plication is a viable procedure and appears to be an acceptable option for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease in obese patients, especially patients with obesity class I.