Minimally invasive surgery for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
The last decade has been characterized by several changes in the therapeutic field for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Major improvements, in fact, have been made in the understanding of the pathophysiology underlying this disease and finally in the ability to diagnose it and in its potential medical as well as surgical treatment. From the surgeons' point of view, the advent of minimally invasive surgery has been the major development and has changed or influenced the treatment algorithm of GERD. The popularity of laparoscopic antireflux surgery is driven by several factors, including such aspects as the high cost of continuing prescription medications, patients' wish for a curative therapy, rapid advances in the laparoscopic techniques, but also a significant improvement of patients' quality of life. This review evaluated the efficacy and outcomes of laparoscopic antireflux surgery in routine clinical practice.
Department of General Surgery, Public Hospital of Zell am See, Zell am See, Austria. thomas.kamolz@kh-zellamsee.at
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Kamolz
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Granderath
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Pointner