title: Fundoplication improves disordered esophageal motility.
abstract: Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and disordered esophageal motility are at risk for postoperative dysphagia, and are often treated with partial (270-degree) fundoplication as a strategy to minimize postoperative swallowing difficulties. Complete (360-degree) fundoplication, however, may provide more effective and durable reflux protection over time. Recently we reported that postfundoplication dysphagia is uncommon, regardless of preoperative manometric status and type of fundoplication. To determine whether esophageal function improves after fundoplication, we measured postoperative motility in patients in whom disordered esophageal motility had been documented before fundoplication. Forty-eight of 262 patients who underwent laparoscopic fundoplication between 1995 and 2000 satisfied preoperative manometric criteria for disordered esophageal motility (distal esophageal peristaltic amplitude < or =30 mm Hg and/or peristaltic frequency < or =80%). Of these, 19 had preoperative manometric assessment at our facility and consented to repeat study. Fifteen (79%) of these patients had a complete fundoplication and four (21%) had a partial fundoplication. Each patient underwent repeat four-channel esophageal manometry 29.5 +/- 18.4 months (mean +/- SD) after fundoplication. Distal esophageal peristaltic amplitude and peristaltic frequency were compared to preoperative data by paired t test. After fundoplication, mean peristaltic amplitude in the distal esophagus increased by 47% (56.8 +/- 30.9 mm Hg to 83.5 +/- 36.5 mm Hg; P < 0.001) and peristaltic frequency improved by 33% (66.4 +/- 28.7% to 87.6 +/- 16.3%; P < 0.01). Normal esophageal motor function was present in 14 patients (74%) after fundoplication, whereas in five patients the esophageal motor function remained abnormal (2 improved, 1 worsened, and 2 remained unchanged). Three patients with preoperative peristaltic frequencies of 0%, 10%, and 20% improved to 84%, 88%, and 50%, respectively, after fundoplication. In most GERD patients with esophageal dysmotility, fundoplication improves the amplitude and frequency of esophageal peristalsis, suggesting refluxate has an etiologic role in motor dysfunction. These data, along with prior data showing that postoperative dysphagia is not common, imply that surgeons should apply complete fundoplication liberally in patients with disordered preoperative esophageal motility.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Digestive Diseases, Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7210, USA.
authors.forename: T Ryan
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Heider
authors.forename: Kevin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Behrns
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Koruda
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Shaheen
authors.forename: Tananchai A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Lucktong
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bradshaw
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Farrell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015154:Esophageal Motility Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000379:methods*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome