POSTOPERATIVE DYSPHAGIA AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC FUNDOPLICATION AS A TREATMENT FOR GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE

Abstract INTRODUCTION Laparoscopic Fundoplication (LF) as a treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has positive clinical outcomes. However, postoperative dysphagia (PD) may appear as a side effect. Our objective is to analyze PD in patients operated on for LF in our center. MATERIAL AND METHODS Retrospective and descriptive study of patients operated on for GERD from September 1997 to February 2019. RESULTS 248 patients (60.5% men), with a mean age of 49.7 (21-82), were operated. 66.1% of the patients presented associated comorbidities, highlighting obesity (19.8%). 75% manifested typical symptoms, 19% presenting with Barrett’s esophagus. Sliding hiatal, paraesophageal, mixed and complex hernia were diagnosed in 151 (60.9%), 23 (9.3%), 12 (4.8%), and 4 (1.6%) patients, respectively. The LF Nissen was the most frequent technique (91.5%), using a caliper in 46% of the cases. PD was the most frequent symptom, present in 57 (23%) patients. It was resolved with dilation in 9 patients, requiring 6 patients surgical reintervention. In those PD cases, a caliper was used in 28 (49.1%) patients, without finding significant differences between them (P = .586). Nor were there significant differences between PD and obesity (P = .510), type of hiatal hernia (P = .326), or surgical technique (P = .428). After a median follow-up of 50.5 months, quality of life was classified as Visick I-II, III, and IV in 76.6%, 6.9% and 1.2% of the cases, respectively. CONCLUSION No association between PD and the use of calipers, surgical technique or type of hiatal hernia was found in our series.