Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication after failed endoscopic gastroplication.

Endoscopic techniques to treat gastroesophageal reflux have been developed and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. One of these techniques is endoscopic gastroplication with the Bard Endocinch device. Although the technique is initially effective, long-term symptom control has not yet been proved. No reports have documented the feasibility of laparoscopic fundoplication after failed endoscopic gastroplication. We report our experience. Ten patients who underwent endoscopic gastroplication subsequently had recurrent symptoms and were referred for laparoscopic antireflux surgery. Eight had typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), whereas two had atypical symptoms. All patients had documented pathologic reflux by 24-hour pH monitoring. Preoperatively, all patients completed the GERD health-related quality of life (HRQL) symptom severity questionnaire. Nine of the 10 operations were completed laparoscopically. The one conversion was carried out because of excessive fat in the hiatal region. No patients had scarring of the esophagus or hiatal region. All patients with typical symptoms improved (decrease in total GERD-HRQL median score from 27 to 4), whereas none of the patients with atypical symptoms did. Six patients had persistent dysphagia for longer than 1 month; two required esophageal dilation. Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is feasible after failed endoscopic gastroplication. Symptomatic improvement is similar to that with the de novo operation. However, in some patients, dysphagia may persist longer.