Oesophageal acid hypersensitivity is not a contraindication to Nissen fundoplication.
BACKGROUND
The Rome III criteria classify patients with a positive relationship between symptoms and reflux episodes but a physiological oesophageal acid exposure time as having gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) with an acid hypersensitive oesophagus. The long-term outcome of antireflux surgery in these patients was investigated.


METHODS
Outcomes of Nissen fundoplication in 28 patients with GORD refractory to proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) and oesophageal acid hypersensitivity (group 1) were compared with those of 126 patients with pathological acid exposure (group 2).


RESULTS
Fundoplication had a similar effect in both groups. Three months after surgery, total acid exposure time and the prevalence of oesophagitis had decreased, whereas mean lower oesophageal pressure had increased. The percentage of patients using PPIs was reduced from 83 to 4 per cent in group 1 and from 86.1 to 7.4 per cent in group 2 (both P < 0.001). Quality of life measured on a scale from 0 to 100 improved from 52 to 69 (P = 0.009) and 64 (P < 0.001) respectively. The percentage of patients with resolved or improved symptoms at 5 years was similar.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with oesophageal acid hypersensitivity benefit from Nissen fundoplication as much as those with pathological acid exposure.
Broeders
J A
JA
Department of Surgery, Gastrointestinal Research Unit, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Draaisma
W A
WA
Bredenoord
A J
AJ
de Vries
D R
DR
Rijnhart-de Jong
H G
HG
Smout
A J
AJ
Gooszen
H G
HG
D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000075202:Contraindications; D004351:Drug Resistance; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D018662:Fundoplication; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000502:physiology*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D009853:Omeprazole