[The effect of the learning curve and the experience on the technique and the outcome of laparoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal reflux].

The laparoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) by partial (PF) or total (TF) fundoplication is the current surgical treatment of choice after failure of appropriate medical treatment. The overall results with fundoplication include the initial learning period during which the rate of complications, and failures are assumed to be greater. The aim of this study was to compare the results of laparoscopic treatment for GR in 3 groups of consecutive patients in order to determine the effect of the learning period and the experience on the technique and the outcome. One hundred and fifty patients (84 men and 66 women) with an average age of 52.2 years (18 to 78) were included. Surgery was indicated for failure or early relapse following the end of medical treatment. The preoperative work-up (endoscopy, barium meal or oesophageal pH monitoring) was governed by the clinical picture. The choice between TF and PF was based on the results of pH monitoring. Three groups of 50 patients around were chronologically defined. The parameters that were examined were: the operative technique; the conversion rate; the mortality and morbidity rate; the duration of surgery and hospitalization and the results at short and medium term follow-up. The three groups were comparable with respect to patient characteristics and the nature of their GERD. All patients had an endoscopy, 91% a barium meal, 77.5% underwent esophageal manometry and 67% pH monitoring. One hundred and thirty two patients had a TF and 18 had a PF. Rosetti's type TF became the reference procedure (80.3% in group III) and closure of the diaphragmatic crura was performed systematically in group III (100%). The duration of surgery was significantly reduced between group I and the two other groups (138, 100, 80 mn.). The rate of conversion, due to a variety of causes, decreased from 10.2% to 4% and then 0%. The average duration of hospitalization decreased from 5.8 to 4.2 days (p = 0.01). There was no mortality and the morbidity rate decreased from 14.3% to 4% and then 0%. There was 7 cases of relapse (4.6%), 5 in group 1 (10.2%) and 2 in group II (4%), with no cases in group III although the follow-up is shorter. There is an effect of the learning curve on the outcome of treatment for GR and this must be taken into account in the training of surgeons (training within experienced departments and "guidance" during their initial interventions) and also in publications in order to allow a more accurate comparison of the different treatments for GERD.