title: [Preoperative workup to assess indication for laparoscopic treatment in gastroesophageal reflux disease].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  antireflux surgery performed by an experienced surgeon is a maintenance option for patients with well-documented gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Well-documented GERD is difficult to find, as GERD is a multifactorial disease in which the gastroesophageal junction, with its special anatomical and functional components, is important. In order to examine patient preoperative workups, and their indication for surgical treatment in GERD, we retrospectively studied patients who underwent a laparoscopic antireflux procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  preoperative workups in patients from our health care area who underwent a laparoscopic antireflux procedure from December 1997 to February 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Data related to epidemiological findings, symptoms, morphologic and functional evaluation, medical therapy, and indication for surgical treatment were recorded and statistically analyzed by means of a bivariate test. Differences were significant when the p value was equal to or less than 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  100 patients (50 % female, 51.31 +/- 13.53 years of age) underwent a laparoscopic antireflux surgery after 56.47 +/- 61.33 months with symptoms. Ninety-five percent of patients had an anatomical abnormality. The pH monitoring test diagnosed three quarters of cases. The most frequent indication for GERD treatment was persistent or recurrent esophagitis despite adequate medical treatment (52 cases).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  based on our preoperative workup, as described, 100 percent of subjects were well documented and diagnosed with GERD (both non-erosive reflux disease and erosive reflux disease), and their indication for laparoscopic treatment was retrospectively assessed in 94% of cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Valle del Nalón Hospital. Langreo, Asturias, Spain. sergio.perez-holanda@sespa.princast.es
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pérez-Holanda
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Urdiales
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: España
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Rubio
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tojo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fernández-Muñiz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calleja
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valverde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult