Reflux parameters as modified by laparoscopic fundoplication in 40 patients with heartburn/regurgitation persisting despite PPI therapy: a study using impedance-pH monitoring.
BACKGROUND
Patients with typical reflux symptoms (heartburn/regurgitation) persisting despite proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy are not uncommon. Impedance-pH monitoring detects gastroesophageal reflux at all pH levels and may establish if ongoing symptoms on PPI therapy are associated with acid/nonacid reflux. Laparoscopic fundoplication is a therapeutic option in such patients but reflux parameters on PPI therapy and after intervention and their relationship with symptom persistence/remission have been scarcely studied.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess reflux parameters and their relationship with symptoms before and after laparoscopic fundoplication, on and off PPI therapy, respectively, in patients with PPI-unresponsive heartburn/regurgitation and with a positive symptom-reflux association and/or abnormal reflux parameters detected on PPI therapy.


METHODS
Impedance-pH monitoring was performed on high-dose PPI therapy and 3 months after laparoscopic fundoplication, off PPI therapy, in 40 patients with PPI-unresponsive heartburn/regurgitation. Symptoms were scored by a validated questionnaire.


RESULTS
Esophageal acid exposure time as well as the number of total and proximal reflux events and of acid and weakly acidic refluxes decreased significantly after surgery: normal values were found in 100, 77, 95, 92 and 65% of cases, respectively. Weakly alkaline refluxes increased significantly postoperatively but neither before nor after intervention were associated with symptoms. All patients reported total/subtotal remission of heartburn/regurgitation 3 months after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic fundoplication improves acid and weakly acidic reflux parameters when compared with PPI therapy. This improvement justifies the very high post-surgical symptom remission rate that we observed. Prolonged follow-up is warranted but our findings strongly support the surgical option in PPI failures.
Frazzoni
Marzio
M
Fisiopatologia Digestiva, Nuovo Ospedale S. Agostino, Viale Giardini 1355, 41100, Modena, Italy. m.frazzoni@ausl.mo.it
Conigliaro
Rita
R
Melotti
Gianluigi
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017097:Electric Impedance; D050782:Esophageal pH Monitoring; D005260:Female; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000379:methods*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006356:Heartburn / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D057045:Laryngopharyngeal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors