Changes in functional gastrointestinal symptoms as a result of antireflux surgery.
BACKGROUND
This study identifies how functional symptoms are altered after antireflux surgery and whether there are any predictors of such change.


METHODS
A total of 206 patients underwent successful laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. A questionnaire was sent at a median of 4.3 years (range = 0.3-8.4) after fundoplication. Patients were asked to provide scores for reflux and functional symptoms that were experienced prior to surgery and at the time of the questionnaire.


RESULTS
Eighty-one percent of patients responded. Scores for heartburn, regurgitation, and difficulty swallowing were felt to have significantly improved (p < 0.01). Flatulence was the only functional symptom to have significantly worsened (p < 0.01). A regression analysis incorporating prospectively collected data identified variables that were predictive of changes in functional symptoms following surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Flatulence was the only functional symptom to have worsened overall after surgery. Predictors of changes in functional symptoms may help clinicians when informing patients about gastrointestinal side effects following antireflux surgery.
Mehta
S
S
Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich NR4 7UY, United Kingdom.
Hindmarsh
A
A
Rhodes
M
M
D005260:Female; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000379:methods*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index