Laparoscopic nissen fundoplication using ultrasonic cutting and coagulation.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common foregut disorder, with 7% of Americans
experiencing heartburn daily. Symptoms of GERD are many and varied, including heartburn, chest
pain, regurgitation, dysphagia, nocturnal aspiration, morning hoarseness, chronic cough, and wheezing.
Fifty percent of symptomatic patients develop esophagitis, while 20% of patients with esophagitis
develop complications, including ulceration, stricture, Barrett's esophagus, and aspiration pneumorritis.
Soares
R S
RS
Brown University, Providence, R.I.
Amaral
J F
JF