title: Health-related quality of life after laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication for achalasia.
abstract: In addition to symptom scores, a person's perception of health and quality of life assessment is an important indicator of quality of treatment and can provide an efficient index to compare different therapeutic modalities in chronic disease states. Only a few studies have investigated quality of life comprehensively in patients with achalasia, and therefore the controversy regarding the best treatment algorithm continues. The primary study outcome was pre- and postoperative quality of life in patients with achalasia undergoing laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication.
  
  
  
  The study is a retrospective, observational cohort. The hospital registry and the updated research database were reviewed to identify all patients who were treated for achalasia between 2010 and 2015. Patients were eligible for the study if they had a minimum 1-year follow-up and had pre-and postoperative Eckardt, Short Form-36, and Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease Health-Related Quality of Life scores. Patients with previous operative and/or endoscopic treatments for achalasia were excluded.
  
  
  
  One-hundred and eighteen patients were identified. The median follow-up was 40 months (interquartile range 27). The proportion of patients with Eckardt stage II-III decreased from 94.9-13% (P < .001). The mean Eckardt score decreased from 6.9 ± 1.9 to 1.7 ± 1.2 (P < .001); the mean Short Form-36 scores significantly increased in all 8 domains; the mean Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease Health-Related Quality of Life score decreased from 13.9 ± 5.7 to 5.5 ± 5.4 (P < .001). Finally, 88% (confidence interval 81-93) of patients were satisfied regarding their present condition.
  
  
  
  Quality of life assessed with generic and disease-specific validated instruments significantly improved after laparoscopic Heller myotomy combined with Dor fundoplication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Division of General Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Asti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Division of General Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sironi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Division of General Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lovece
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Division of General Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bonavina
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Division of General Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Melania
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fanelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Division of General Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bonitta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Division of General Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, University of Milan, Milano, Italy. Electronic address: luigi.bonavina@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonavina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000379:methods*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome