A one-year follow-up study of endoluminal gastroplication (Endocinch) in GERD patients refractory to proton pump inhibitor therapy

In a subset of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), symptoms persist in spite of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. Endoscopic gastroplication (EG) was reported to provide a novel therapeutic option in GERD. To evaluate symptomatic and objective outcome of EG in PPI refractory GERD, consecutive GERD patients with persisting reflux symptoms during at least 2 months double dose PPI were recruited for EG (Endocinch). Exclusion criteria were high-grade esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, and hiatal hernia > 3 cm. Symptoms and PPI use were evaluated before and 1, 3, and 12 months after the EG; 24-hr pH monitoring off PPI was performed before and after 3 and 12 months. All data are given as mean +/- SD and were analyzed by Student's t test. Twenty patients ( 10 females; mean age, 45 +/- 11 years) were recruited. Under conscious sedation with midazolam ( 6 +/- 2 mg) and pethidine ( 53 +/- 5 mg), a mean of 2.0 +/- 0.2 sutures was applied during a procedure time of 33 +/- 6 min. Throat ache and mild epigastric pain for up to 3 days after the procedure were the only adverse events. At 3 and 12 months symptom score (11.6 +/- 6 vs. 6.4 +/- 3.7 [ P < 0.01] and 7.1 +/- 4.5 [ P < 0.05]) as well as pH monitoring (% time pH < 4: 17.0 +/- 11.1 vs. 8.1 +/- 5.7% [ P < 0.01] and 9.8 +/- 4.1% [ P < 0.01]) significantly improved. Ph monitoring was normalized (< 4% of time) in seven patients after 3 months. PPIs could be stopped in 13 patients, with 2 patients still using H-2-blockers and 1 using cisapride after 3 months. After 12 months only six patients were free of PPI use and pH monitoring was normalized in six patients. We conclude that EG provides short- and medium-term symptomatic and objective relief to a subset of GERD patients refractory to high-dose PPI.