Improvement of laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms after laparoscopic Hill repair.
BACKGROUND
People with proven gastroesophageal reflux disease may also experience symptoms such as voice loss, chronic cough, globus, and sore throat. These laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms have been reported to respond to prolonged proton pump inhibitor therapy, but the Hill approach to resolving these specific individual symptoms has not been widely reported in surgical literature.


METHODS
This clinical outcome study is an analysis of symptom improvement in 145 patients who underwent laparoscopic Hill hiatal hernia repair. A standardized questionnaire was used to score eight gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms and four laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms. Also, each patient's primary chief complaints were analyzed.


RESULTS
Gastroesophageal reflux and laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms significantly improved (P < 0.01) compared with preoperative symptoms. Each patient's primary chief complaints improved as well.


CONCLUSIONS
This clinical outcome analysis documents symptomatic improvement of laryngopharyngeal reflux and gastroesophageal reflux. Likewise, when these laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms are chief complaints, with proven gastroesophageal reflux disease, the Hill approach to symptom resolution is likely to be successful.
Wright
Robert C
RC
Meridian Surgical Services, Inc., Good Samaritan Hospital, Puyallup, WA 98371, USA. meridiansurg@hotmail.com
Rhodes
Kelcey P
KP
D000328:Adult; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006551:Hernia, Hiatal / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology