Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication improves disease-specific quality of life in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and functional gastroesophageal outflow obstruction

Introduction: The optimal management of functional esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EJOO) remains controversial particularly in the setting of concomitant gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). There remains a paucity of data regarding the outcomes of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) in this patient population. We hypothesized that GERD patients with manometric findings of EJOO on preoperative manometry do not have increased rates of postoperative dysphagia compared to those with normal or hypotensive LES pressures. Materials and methods: This retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing LNF for GERD compared outcomes in patients with and without functional EJOO (fEJOO). The outcomes of interest included disease-specific quality of life improvement, dysphagia scores, and the need for endoscopic dilation following fundoplication. Results: Two hundred and eleven patients underwent LNF for GERD and 15 (7.1%) were classified as having fEJOO. Baseline GERD-HRQL [30.0 (21.5–37) vs. 31 (21–37), p = 0.57] were similar between fEJOO and control patients, respectively. There was no difference in baseline dysphagia scores [3.5 (2–5) vs. 2.0 (1–4), p = 0.64] between the two groups. Postoperative GERD-HRQL [5.0 (2–13) vs. 4.0 (1–8), p = 0.59] scores did not differ between fEJOO and control patients at 6-week follow-up. One year after surgery, GERD-HRQL [8.0 (3–9) vs. 4.5 (2–13), p = 0.97] did not differ between groups. Dysphagia rates were similar at 6-week (p = 0.78) and 1-year follow-ups (p = 0.96). The need for dilation at 1 year following fundoplication was similar in both cohorts (13%, p = 0.96). Conclusion: GERD patients with functional EJOO achieved similar improvements in disease-specific quality of life without increased incidence of dysphagia postoperatively.