title: [Gastroesophageal reflux. 2nd indication for digestive celioscopic surgery?].
abstract: Widespread us of laparoscopic surgery adds a new element to the debate over the choice between medical or surgical treatment for gastro-oesophageal reflux. Patients and gastroenterologists often favour medical management to avoid post-operative pain, a long recovery period, an abdominal scar or the risk of eventration but at the cost of long-term drug therapy and the need for repeated check-ups and endoscopy examinations. Yet surgery was found to give better long-term results in the only study comparing surgery and medical treatment. The question of cost and insurance coverage must also be considered. Although the indications for laparoscopic surgery would be identical to those for laparotomy it is probably possible that a wider population could benefit from this technique as laparoscopic cure can be indicated as an alternative in patients highly dependent on drug therapy. Relapse in patients with a long-term medical regimen is another recent indication. We should however always keep in mind that good outcome after laparoscopic surgery depends not only on a correct indication and evaluation of the oesophageal motricity but also on the skill and experience of the surgical team. Laparoscopic cure should certainly play a major role in the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux and will undoubtedly soon be the second most frequent laparoscopic technique performed after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Domergue
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fabre
mesh_terms: D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality
vernacular_title: Reflux gastro-oesophagien. Deuxième indication de la chirurgie coelioscopique digestive?