Surgical outcome in gastro-esophageal reflux disease patients with inadequate response to proton pump inhibitors

Laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) has been shown to be effective in treatment of patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) requiring long-term medical therapy. Its effectiveness in patients with poor response to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has been questioned. We prospectively followed 445 patients with proven GERD inadequately controlled on PPI (up to 120 mg/day) and 274 GERD patients with good response to PPIs (20-120 mg/day) after LF. Patients in both groups underwent 24 h pH testing, esophageal manometry, symptom score evaluation, and quality-of-life (QOL) assessment (SF-36) before and at 6 months, 2 years, and 5 years after surgery. LF was associated with a marked improvement in percentage acid reflux, lower esophageal sphincter pressure, and symptom control in both groups of patients; however, the poor responders to PPIs also had a significant improvement in both physical and mental health component of the QOL assessment. Laparoscopic fundoplication provides an excellent symptom control for GERD patients, even those who have responded inadequately to large doses of PPIs. GERD patients who respond poorly to PPI therapy have significantly lowered physical and mental health QOL scores. Laparoscopic fundoplication in this group of patients leads to marked improvement of both components of QOL by 2 years after surgery.