title: Long-term outcomes after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for reflux laryngitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux-induced reflux laryngitis remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine both long-term objective endoscopic findings and subjective symptomatic outcomes after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication in patients operated on for reflux laryngitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 consecutive patients with pH-proven reflux laryngitis underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication between 1998 and 2002. 68% (n = 27) of these patients underwent an endoscopic evaluation and 90% (n = 36) were available for the subjective long-term outcome (personal interviews).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At a median follow-up of 91 months there were no disrupted plications, none of the patients had esophagitis but 3 recurrent hiatal hernias were detected. 61% of the patients reported no or only mild reflux laryngitis symptoms postoperatively and 69% of the patients evaluated their voice quality improved after surgery. 94% of the patients were satisfied with their surgical result. With benefit of hindsight, 11% of the patients would not choose surgical treatment and 42% had reinitiated antireflux medications postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of pH-proven gastroesophageal reflux-induced reflux laryngitis patients attain long-term symptomatic benefit and satisfaction on the surgical outcome, and with proper patient selection laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication provides a feasible long-term treatment option for reflux laryngitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. paulina.salminen@tyks.fi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karvonen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ovaska
mesh_terms: D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018662:Fundoplication; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006551:Hernia, Hiatal; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007827:Laryngitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014833:Voice Quality