Gastrointestinal quality of life before and after laparoscopic heller myotomy with partial posterior fundoplication.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the outcome of laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia using a specific quality of life (QoL) instrument for gastrointestinal disorders.


BACKGROUND
Current therapies for achalasia do not restore normal esophageal motility but aim at palliating dysphagia. However, many other symptoms may persist that cannot be assessed objectively by currently available symptom scores. Although generic QoL instruments have shown improvement in QoL after myotomy, disease-specific QoL instruments may be more responsive to change and therefore more reliable for comparing outcomes of therapeutic options for achalasia.


METHODS
The Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) was studied before and after laparoscopic Heller myotomy associated with posterior partial fundoplication.


RESULTS
Starting in January 1991, 73 consecutive patients were operated on laparoscopically for various clinical stages of achalasia. Since 1996, 40 patients completed a GIQLI questionnaire both preoperatively and after a minimum postoperative follow-up of 1 year. Median preoperative GIQLI score was 84 (range 34-129) out of a theoretical maximum score of 144. At a median follow-up of 31 months (range 12-54), the score had significantly improved to 119 (range 77-143), close to the range for the normal French population. Not only items assessing gastrointestinal symptoms but also the domains of physical, social, and emotional function were significantly improved. The most marked improvements were achieved in patients with the lowest preoperative scores.


CONCLUSIONS
The GIQLI allows us to objectify the impact of achalasia symptoms on health-related QoL. At medium-term follow-up, laparoscopic Heller myotomy, performed either as primary treatment or after endoscopic dilation, significantly improves most health-related QoL aspects. Short of randomized comparisons between the different therapeutic options available for achalasia, reported series could be made more comparable if validated QoL instruments specific for gastrointestinal disorders were used routinely for outcome evaluation.
Decker
Georges
G
Department of Visceral Surgery A, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, University Hospital Center Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
Borie
Fréderic
F
Bouamrirene
Dalila
D
Veyrac
Michel
M
Guillon
Françoise
F
Fingerhut
Abe
A
Millat
Bertrand
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004068:Digestive System Physiological Phenomena; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011336:Probability; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index