title: Anterior partial fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined the effect of anterior partial fundoplication on reflux symptoms and dysphagia in gastroesophageal reflux disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Perioperative results in 249 patients were evaluated retrospectively for 93 conventional and prospectively for 156 laparoscopic procedures. The patients were followed up by standardized questionnaire. Median clinical follow-up period was 9 months (range 6-44) after laparoscopic and 88 months (range 15-194) following partial open fundoplication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median operating time was 58 and 115 min for laparoscopic and open partial fundoplication. Intraoperative complications were rare (1%) for both approaches. After introduction of the laparoscopic procedure the morbidity rate was reduced (mean 3.2% vs. 1.3%) at a shorter postoperative hospital stay (10 vs. 5 days). No reflux symptoms were found in 71.4% patients after conventional and in 69% after laparoscopic partial fundoplication, dysphagia did not develop in 86% and 85%, respectively, and 66% and 82% received no medications. Among the patients with reflux symptoms 6.5% and 0.9% underwent revision surgery. Satisfaction with the surgical outcome was expressed by 78% and 85% of patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anterior partial fundoplication achieves effective medium- and long-term control of reflux symptoms. Technically easy to perform and associated with few complications, the procedure is superior to fundoplication with respect to the development of postoperative dysphagia and therefore represents a viable alternative to fundoplication.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Hospital, Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany. kneist@ach.klinik.uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kneist
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heintz
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Trinh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Junginger
mesh_terms: D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000379:methods*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors