Effect of laparoscopic fundoplication treatment on gastroesophageal reflux disease-related respiratory symptoms

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was diagnosed and fundoplication was performed, which relieved the symptoms. This paper explores the effect of fundoplication on GERD-related respiratory symptoms. From January 2007 to October 2008, 64 patients with respiratory symptoms related to GERD were consecutively enrolled for laparoscopic fundoplication. Of these, 60 patients had respiratory symptoms mainly combined with gastroesophageal reflux, while four had respiratory symptoms only. All patients had GERD confirmed, and medical treatment provided before surgery resulted in an insufficiently favorable effect or even producing further complications. All the patients were requested to fill a questionnaire form regarding the severity of symptoms and their medication so as to make an evaluation score for the follow-up. The outcome of respiratory symptoms after surgery was as follows: excellent in 23 cases (35.9%); good in 28 (43.8%); fair in 5 (7.8%); poor in 8 (12.5%). The mean respiratory symptom score decreased from 6.3±2.65 to 2.33±2.37. Laparoscopic fundoplication can be an effective treatment for the majority of patients with GERD-related respiratory symptoms. © 2010 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.