Fumagalli Romario U, Barbera R, Repici A, Porta M, Malesci A, Rosati R
J Gastrointest Surg. 2011 Mar; 15(3):439-43.

BACKGROUND:

Endoluminal fundoplication (ELF) with EsophyX is a new attractive investigational procedure for the control of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of this work is to evaluate the short-term results of Nissen fundoplication (NF) after failure of ELF.

METHOD:

During the period April 2007-January 2010, nine patients previously treated with ELF for GERD were submitted to laparoscopic NF for persistent reflux.

RESULTS:

All patients were symptomatic for GERD, had a pathological esophageal acid exposure at multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII pH/24 h), and all of them were on proton pump inhibitor. Mean duration of the NF was 85 min (range, 56-104). There were no intraoperative complications. One patient had a postoperative mild peritoneal bleeding treated conservatively. After a mean follow-up of 24.9 months (4-34), all patients are asymptomatic for reflux. Two patients have a mild or moderate dysphagia at follow-up. Five patients underwent MII pH/24 h 1 year after surgery. Mean total reflux time was 0.3%, and acid reflux percent time was 0.

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients with persistent symptomatic reflux after a failing ELF can still undergo NF with good results; the endoluminal procedure does not seem to modify the results of the laparoscopic procedure, although an increased incidence of dysphagia pos-NF may be observed.

Link to abstract on PubMed: Fumagalli Romario U, et al; J Gastrointest Surg. 2011 Mar; 15(3):439-43.

TIF procedure, Fumagalli Romario