Unbounded Medicine

From Annals of Surgery

A randomized trial that compares (subjectively and objectively) the laparoscopic versus conventional Nissen fundoplication in 5 years.

The comparision was made with 148 (79 laparoscopic vs 69 patients who were requested to fill in a questionnarie and to undergo esophageal manometry and 24 hours pH-metry.

Results: At 5 years follow-up, 20 patients had undergone reoperation: 12 after laparoscopy (15%) and 8 after conventional (12%). There was no difference in subjective outcome, with overall satisfaction rates of 88% (lap) and 90% (conv). Total esophageal acid exposure times (pH < 4) were 2.1% +/- 0.5% and 2.0% +/- 0.6%, respectively (P = 0.21). Antisecretory medication was taken daily in 14% and 16%, respectively (P = 0.29). There was no correlation between medication use and acid exposure and indices of symptom-reflux association. No significant differences between subjective and objective results at 3 to 6 months and results obtained at 5 years after surgery were found.

It concludes that the effects of laparoscopic and conventional are sustained up to 5 years and the long-term results are comparable. A substantial minority of patients in both groups had a second antireflux operation or took antisecretory drugs, although the use of those medications did not appear to be related to abnormal esophageal acid exposure.

I think laparoscopic approach is clearly superior due to the recuded hospital days and short convalescence period.
Regards,
Dr. Jon Mikel Iñarritu

A woman came to the office because of sharp epigastric pain. On physical examination nothing was wrong except of epigastric pain. An endoscopy was performed and reported as normal. An Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Barium Examination was ordered and we found a cascade stomach, which is a rare finding. We exlude other causes of abdominal pain in the first place.

Here are the images.

As you can see in this series, the fundus, still lies in its usual position relative to the structures of the left upper quadrant but the proximal portion of the body of the stomach is in an abnormally anterior and superior position. When this type of stomach is filled with barium (erect position), static roentgenograms may demonstrate a separate fluid level confined to the fundus. At fluonoscopy, barium first fills the dependent, posterior fundus to the highest level of the “ridge” and then spills or “cascades” into the body and antrum.

On the next day we have performed an esophageal manometry and the patients had lower esophageal incompetence, so we performed a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication with gastropexia.

Now the patient is painless and in excellent condition.

Regards,

Jon Mikel Iñarritu, M.D.