The laparoscopic management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Laparoscopic fundoplication has replaced open fundoplication as the gold standard for the surgical management of patients with GERD. The improvements in technique that have led to the excellent results on long-term follow-up have broadened the indications for surgical involvement along the continuum of severity in GERD. Therefore, the importance of accurate preoperative testing for appropriate patient classification must be emphasized to all who care for these patients.