title: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. Initial experience.
abstract: Fifty-two patients underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. Oesophagogastroscopy, ambulatory 24-hour pH-recording and oesophageal manometry were evaluated both preoperatively and at follow-up. Forty-seven operations were completed laparoscopically, five were converted to laparotomy. There was no mortality, but minor postoperative complications occurred in four patients. The mean hospital stay after a laparoscopic operation was three days and sick leave 14 days. After three months, 94% of the patients were free of reflux symptoms, oesophagogastroscopy showed normal findings in 95% of the patients and oesophageal 24-hour pH-values were normal in 95% of the patients. Dysphagia (28%) and gas bloating (17%) were the most frequent postoperative complaints. A total of 94% of the subjects were satisfied with the result. Our initial experience of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication shows that the operation is safe and efficient in the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ovaska
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rantala
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laine
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gullichsen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hietanen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005260:Female; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000379:methods; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies