title: Long-term outcomes of patients with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease following a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure: a prospective observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common digestive disease, affecting one third of the world's population. The minimally invasive endoscopic Stretta procedure is being increasingly used as an alternative strategy to manage refractory GERD. However, long-term benefits of this procedure have to be further evaluated in clinical settings. This prospective observational study was therefore conducted to evaluate the outcome of patients with refractory GERD 5 years after the Stretta procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 152 patients with refractory GERD underwent the Stretta procedure in our department between April 2007 and September 2008. They were followed up for 5 years, during which the primary outcome measures including symptom scores of heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, cough and asthma and the secondary outcome measures including proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and patients' satisfaction were analysed at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 152 patients, 138 completed the designated 5-year follow-up and were included in the final analysis. At the end of the 5-year follow-up, the symptom scores of heartburn (2.47 ± 1.22 vs. 5.86 ± 1.52), regurgitation (2.23 ± 1.30 vs. 5.56 ± 1.65), chest pain (2.31 ± 0.76 vs. 4.79 ± 1.59), cough (3.14 ± 1.43 vs. 6.62 ± 1.73) and asthma (3.26 ± 1.53 vs. 6.83 ± 1.46) were all significantly decreased as compared with the corresponding values before the procedure (P < 0.001). After the Stretta procedure, 59 (42.8%) patients achieved complete PPI therapy independence and 104 (75.4%) patients were completely or partially satisfied with the GERD symptom control. Moreover, no severe complications were observed except for complaint of abdominal distention in 12 (8.7%) patients after the Stretta procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Stretta procedure may achieve an effective and satisfactory long-term symptom control and considerably reduce the reliance on medication without significant adverse effects in adult patients with refractory GERD, thereby having profound clinical implications.
authors.forename: Wei-Tao
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Zhong-Gao
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhi-Wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jian-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Guang-Chang
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Second Artillery General Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, 16 Xinwai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100088, China. wujimin@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ji-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D005773:Gastroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006356:Heartburn / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors